Modern Dog Summer 2010

The lifestyle magazine for modern dogs and their companions

Bored Dog?

Tons of * Free Stuff SUMMER 2010

inside!

40+ summer ideas to keep your dog busy + happy

Disc Dogs

Dog People VS Cat People

Calling all Frisbee addicts

How to

Teach your dog to swim Train when your dog won’t take treats

Publications Agreement Number 40743013 Return Mail Dept, 202–343 Railway St., Vancouver, BC V6A 1A4

Exclusive!

Leona Lewis A voice for animals Could your dog be a therapy dog?

SUM 10

moderndogmagazine.com Display until SEPT 10 CDN$5.95 US$4.95

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The DalmatiAn p28 How to detect lyme disease p72 Can dogs sense earthquakes? p117 Training deaf dogs p88 Is a dog’s mouth cleaner than a human’s? p117

Fresh Summer Eats Turkey salad for sharing + seasonal slushie

Sweet SENIORS! Elderly dogs have their day p56

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Formulated with Resveratrol My German Shepherd Senya has arthritis in one hip and dysplasia in the other. With ProFlex, Senya showed significant improvement within a couple of weeks and is now running around our yard with ease.

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vol 9

no 2

photo Kharen hill

Features 36

Dog People VS Cat People Are there real personality differences?

By Stanley Coren

42

Sweet 16 16 sweet ideas for summer fun.

44

Tink + Pink Hero Dachshund mothers orphaned piglet.

photo tanya king

56

By melissa barr

48

52

88

In Therapy Get inspired. Volunteers and their therapy dogs do some seriously good work, brightening the days of those desperately in need of a little good cheer.

96

Dogs of War A look at the canine friends who prove compatriots and confidantes as battle plays out around them.

117

Myth Barkers Busted! Common misconceptions concerning canines debunked. By Jonathon Brown

By Corey Van’t Haaf

56

Training Deaf Dogs Finding new ways to communicate.

High-flyin’ Disc Dogs Calling all Frisbee-addicts: Could this be the sport for you?

Saints SAINTS senior and special needs animal hospice opens its doors for a photo shoot of its very happy residents. Photographed by Tanya King

76

A Voice for Animals Exclusive! Songstress Leona Lewis on animals, Avatar, and advocacy. By Karin Sinkevicius

82

The Write Stuff Winners of Modern Dog’s first ever writing contest.

86

Lady Gaga, Doggie Style Photographer Jesse Freidin captures dogs doing their best Lady Gaga impersonations. By Melissa Barr

2 moderndog SUMMER 2010

By Jennifer Messer

THE GOODS 35

Best Budget Buys, All Under $10 Cool finds for little coin.

81

Great Gear Groovy gear for the great outdoors.

95

Super Summer Toys Hardworking “ruff”-and-tumble toys for the beach, the park, the backyard.

BREED PROFILE 28

The Dalmatian 101 delights.

By Marian Buechert

BODY AND SOUL Cool it! 8 Ways to Beat the Heat

62

Killer Palm a Risk to Dogs

62

Portly Pooch Diet Tip

62

A Sound Idea

64

It’s a Dogs Life (in Colour)

64

Mind Your Manners

64

Cool Gadget: Rabbit Air

64

Give a Cookie Help a Shelter Dog

66

The Doctor’s In That’s right, it’s tick season. Tips for prevention and safe removal (eww).

68

photo steven donahue

62

Super Cookies The low-down on functional treats.

By Laura Scott and Elizabeth Pask

95

48 Living 12

Stuff We Love Modern Dog staffers’ picks of the litter.

23

Pup Profiles Get to know this issue’s selection of super, smiling dogs. Could your dog be featured next?

32

DIY Craft Impress your friends! Stitch up this soft, practical, and pretty travel blanket.

46

DIY Eat Take advantage of local, in-season produce and whip up this easy, healthy summer recipe for you and your dog to share.

101

The Stay: Portland Battle of the pet-friendly properties: Hotel Deluxe VS The Jupiter.

103

Art Attack Profile in style. From Schnauzers to Springer Spaniels, Ken Bailey nails vintage-inspired poster art, all with a dog motif. By Marni Wedin

107

Connie’s Book Club Pack your book bag and a poop bag and hit the beach with your two loves—a good book and a good dog.

111

Ask Dog Lady Dog Lady delves into your most dogged dilemmas.

115

Writing contest: “How I Met My Dog” Tell us your story! Whether a “meet cute,” a mutual rescue, or a from loathing-to-love story, we want to hear it.

119

Training Help is Here!

From a pup with a shoe fetish to a Border Collie that won’t swim, your most daunting dog training problems are tackled by our experts.

136

The Right Stuff Get going! Camping and canines is a match made in heaven.

Regular Features 6 8 10 14 24 26 124 135

Editor’s Letter Contributors Our Readers Write The Scoop Calendar of Events Smile! Photo Contest Marketplace Giveaways

cover look British singer-songwriter sensation and World Society for the Protection of Animals supporter Leona Lewis with eightmonth-old Juliette, a Lange Foundation pup up for adoption. Photographed

by Kharen Hill. Hair, Rick Henry; makeup Lisa Riley; styling Jen MacFarlane.

4 moderndog SUMMER 2010

In USA: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 9, Issue 2. Published quarterly

by Modern Dog Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 06111-4003. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and additional offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, PO Box 310402, Newington, CT 06131-0402.

WHEREVER YOUR BEST FRIEND GOES Fleas don’t just infest your pet. By spreading their eggs and larvae around, they end up in your bed, your carpet, everywhere. To stop an infestation, ask for the brand vets recommend most: FRONTLINE® Plus.

It kills fleas fast, plus their eggs and larvae—and even ticks.

It’s waterproof. And just one dose lasts all month long.

Make sure the only one getting comfy in your home is your pet.

Ask for the Vet’s #1 Choice,* FRONTLINE Plus. *Vet-dispensed; MDI Data. ®FRONTLINE is a registered trademark of Merial. ©2010 Merial Limited, Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. FLE09CNPRINT_R

Kills fleas and ticks fast...and lasts.

J

photo Lindsey Donovan

e ditor ’s l e t t e r

ust before the New Year, Kaya, my beloved dog of 16 years, passed on. My editor’s letter in this past spring’s issue was a tribute to her and the love and companionship we shared; it was the hardest editor’s note I’ve yet to write. Upon hearing of my loss, I received numerous cards, emails, and calls of condolence from readers. It is true that only other dog lovers can really understand the depth of grief and emptiness that overwhelms you when you lose a dog. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and caring, and especially for sharing your own experiences; you’ve helped me through a very difficult time.

We also received a flood of writing contest entries about the special dogs in your lives, further testimony to the incredible bond we share with our canine companions. I read each and every entry with great pleasure before they were passed on to the judging panel. I had to have a box of tissues on hand as so many of the stories—both happy and sad—would have me wiping my eyes, tears trickling down my face. I’d turn over the corners of the pages of my favourite stories so that I could easily remember my top choices to present to the judges. The only problem was, once I had read all the entries, I realized that most of them had their page corners turned over! The judges had an equally difficult time in selecting the winners. With space allotted for just three winning stories in this edition, we have decided that we will publish three more winners in the fall issue. We’ll also be posting a selection of noteworthy entries on Modern Dog’s website and then letting you, our readers, choose an additional three top stories for publication.

Please vote on your favourites by visiting moderndogmagazine. com/readerschoice!

If you regret not having submitted your own story, don’t despair—we were so impressed with the quality of the entries that we’re unveiling a second creative nonfiction contest, “How I Met My Dog.” Winning entries will be published in the Winter 2010 issue. Please turn to page 115 or visit moderndogmagazine.com/ yourstorycontest for contest details. I can’t wait to read this next round of stories.

Beyond the wonderful winning writing contest entries on page 82, we’ve got a jam-packed issue I know you’ll enjoy. Pop star and

6 moderndog SUMMER 2010

animal advocate Leona Lewis graces the cover and speaks about her alignment with the World Society for the Protection of Animals and lending her celebrity to animal welfare issues in an exclusive interview and photo shoot for Modern Dog (page 75). Get a peek at some of the heart-meltingly sweet dogs that reside at SAINTS, a senior and special needs animal sanctuary run by the awe-inspiring Carol Hine—just be prepared to fall in love with the adorable (and adoptable!) dogs that call SAINTS home, as well as Carol herself (page 56). And then there are the therapy dogs who help rescue others, brightening the days of those in hospitals and care facilities (page 52), as well as the dogs who, in war zones, offer both camaraderie and assistance, whether sniffing bombs or simply providing companionship in a relentlessly hostile environment (page 96).

To make the most of the summer months, turn to page 42 for our “16 Sweet Ideas for Summer Fun;” find out if the supposed differences between “cat people” and “dog people” are real on page 36; and check out all the cool new gear for dogs, from toys for the beach to camping gear to serious steals under $10. Then, for some fun fitness inspiration, flip to page 48 and take a look at the awesome moves of the disc dogs featured. If all this reading has worked up an appetite, try the delicious, healthy summer recipe on page 46—it’s designed expressly for you and your dog to enjoy together.

And that’s just the beginning. From health and wellness in Body and Soul to a Dachshund that mothers an orphaned piglet, I’m positive this issue will inform, inspire, and put a smile on your face.

Have a fun, safe, relaxing, restorative summer,

Constance Wilson Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

Oh wisdom in your fur coat and whiskers.

What don’t you know?

Sometimes I believe I have seen my soul searched in your eyes, how much time passes between us without word?

How much do you know that I’ve just begun to understand?

Spirit of grace and humor on all fours.

-Pam Reinke

c on tribut o r s summer 2010

•

vol 9

no 2

Publisher

Modern Dog Inc. Editor-in-Chief

We are thrilled to welcome dog trainer extraordinaire Colleen Safford to our Fab Five “Ask a Trainer” team with this issue. Colleen is the host of The Family Pet on Pet Life Radio, and has been voted “Best of NY” by New York Magazine for her New York-based services NY Walk & Train and Far Fetched Acres. As mother to toddler children and a Boxer-mix, she is particularly interested in raising awareness on dog-child safety. In her first Q+A training column for Modern Dog, Colleen tackles a tricky phobia in a Pug that’s scared of the cracks in sidewalks (page 119).

Connie Wilson Editor

Jennifer Nosek Contributing Editor

Marian Buechert Creative Director

Jennifer Nosek

Circulation Manager

Jessica Nosek

Administration and Circulation Assistant

Jonathon Brown

Design & Production

Carolyn Howse

Design & Production Assistant

Maxine Matishak Design Intern

Vanessa Dong Sales & Marketing

Annica Tong, Lillian Wei Editorial Assistant

Karin Sinkevicius, Melissa Barr

Photographer Kharen Hill makes her second contribution to Modern Dog with this issue’s cover shoot of Leona Lewis (page 74). Kharen is an internationally known entertainment photographer who splits her time between Los Angeles and Vancouver. She has photographed celebrities from Sarah McLachlan, Clint Eastwood, and KISS, to Michael J. Fox and Kim Cattrall for the recent Vancouver 2010 Olympic campaign, “You Gotta Be Here.”

She works with many major motion picture studios and television networks, as well as working on national and international advertising campaigns. Kharen spends her down-time on her ranch with her daughter and horses in Westbridge, BC. See more of her work at kharenhill.com.

Accounting and Subscription Services Assistant

Celine Benipayo Controller

Cecilia de Roca Chan Web Consultant

Dave Egan

Donations Program Liaison

Jessica Nosek

Okanagan Representative

Jytte Wilson

Subscription inquiries call (800) 417-6289 Advertising inquiries call (866) 734-3131 In Canada: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 9, Issue 2.

Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4 POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4 In USA: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 9, Issue 2. Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 06111-4003.

Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and additional offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, PO Box 310402, Newington, CT 06131-0402.

604) 734-3131 or toll free (866) 734-3131

phone (

Steven Donahue’s action-charged photos of dogs doing amazing flips and leaps appear in this issue’s “Disc Dogs” feature (page 48). His company, See Spot Run Photography, was born out of his passion for photography and his love of dogs, both amply reflected in his work.

Since 2002, he has photographed dogs for clients, including corporations, serious canine athletes, and show dog professionals, all across the United States. Since 2004, Steve has served as the official photographer for the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge. He lives in the suburbs of Atlanta with his wife, Nancy, and their menagerie of dogs. See more of Steve’s work at seespotrunphoto.com.

8 moderndog SUMMER 2010

fax (604) 734-3031 or toll free (866) 734-3031

The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, images, photographs or other materials. By accepting and publishing advertising the publisher in no way recommends, guarantees or endorses the quality of services or products within those advertisements.

Copyright 2010 by Modern Dog Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means, electronic or mechanical, including the Internet or photocopying without the written permission of the Publisher. Modern Dog and its logotype are the trademarks of Modern Dog Inc. One-year subscription prices: Canada $18CAD, U.S.A. $15USD, foreign $45USD. Subscription orders and customer service inquiries should be sent to Modern Dog Subscription Services, Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4

PRINTED IN CANADA

www.moderndogmagazine.com Publications Mail Agreement Number 40743013 PAP Registration No. 11049 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program and the Canada Magazine Fund towards our mailing and editorial costs.

Cert no. SW-COC-000952

Bark Back! o ur r e ad e r s w ri t e

Setting hearts and minds a twitter From Twitter… @PawsitiveReport: Thanks to @ModernDogMag for the great information on caring for dogs. I learn something new every day! @DogTipper: Haven’t seen a directory of shops for pets but @ModernDogMag travel articles have good shopping sections!

Facebook Funnies

@MichelleCliffe: Sending a big shout to @leonalewismusic and @moderndogmag for a great photo shoot. What you both do for animals is amazing! Thank you!

From Facebook…

In reply to a comment about dogs pooping when you have no bag: Tabatha Silva: Happens to me all the time! I once had to use a dollar bill! Thankful that I have a four pound dog.

In regards to what you would do if your partner/spouse became allergic to your dog: Agnieszka Angie Wojciechowska: Divorce... well, you can always find another man.

Darci Larson Stinar: In a dating situation, the dog wins of course!

Otherwise, I am going to hope allergy shots work… without the dog, ALL of us would be lost.

In regards to what superpower your dog would have: Angela Bell: Does super-eating count?

10 moderndog SU MMER 2010

@2fish6feet: Diving into my Spring issue of @ModernDogMag and waiting for the closing Olympics program—what a great Canadian Sunday! @The_Dog_Lady_15: I just got the latest issue of @ModernDogMag in the mail. Do I read it now or save it for my plane ride next week? >>Join the conversation! Become a fan of Modern Dog on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Write to us!

Modern Dog welcomes correspondence from all readers. Address letters to Modern Dog Letters, 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1A4, Canada, or email us at letters@moderndogmagazine.com. If correspondence is by email, please tell us where you are writing from.

All letters are subject to editing.

Are you feeding your dog the right food?

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STUFF WE LOVE

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Modern Dog staffers’ picks of the litter

1 Sketch, Sew. Wiggle, Wag. My new embroidered French Bulldog tee from Imago Drift has me in

BP

stitches! All the machine embroideries are hand-controlled not computer-controlled so each item is an original, like me!—Maxine “One-of-a-kind” Matishak ($40, etsy.com/shop/ImagoDRIFT)

2 Gwen Gear’s lightweight yet durable “Treat” collar and lead are the pawfect solution to summer accessorizing. The cute cupcake motif with an edge—who doesn’t like a little cupcakes ‘n’ crossbones?—will sweeten any dog’s disposition. –Karin ($33 and $38, gwengear.com) 3 Flavour your world with a little dash pepper and sprinkle of salt! These Gazelle Art Glass salt and pepper shakers come in a Dog and Hydrant pairing. With each set unique, no picnic meal is the same without these character shakers. Bon appétit!—Annica ($78, gazelleglass.com)

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4 I’ll be all dressed and ready to go in this Andean Poncho from South America. Next time Aunt

Jessica goes adventuring, she better plan to bring a dog carrier!—Miniature Dachshund Esther ($37, alqowasi.com)

5 Utilizing chemical-free, odourless UV-C light, Verilux’ CleanWave UV-C Sanitizing Furniture and Bed

Vac eliminates 99.9% of viruses, bacteria, dust mite and flea eggs on household surfaces, making this detachable hand vacuum perfect for quick pet cleanups.—Lillian ($130, verilux.com)

6 These handmade Abby dog tags are perfect: Should my dog “liberate” himself from my backyard,

I can search assured that if the neighbours find him before I do, they’ll know that even if I don’t have a escape-artist-proof fence, I have great taste!—Krista ($14, etsy.com/shop/makeyourdogsmile)

7 Having a beard myself, I can relate to how hard it can be to keep your jowls looking clean and

^

respectable. That’s why I’m jealous of Pets’ Spark’s supplements that eliminate the gooey bacteria that stain the face and mouth of many of our furry friends. It only takes a few doses, and comes in a variety of flavors. I recommend the chicken.—Jonathon ($23, petsspark.com)

8 Vacuuming used to be a boring and tedious household chore until I got my new Dyson DC25

BO

Animal. Its amazing suction power picks up dust, dirt, and the peskiest of pet hair. And it rides on a ball rather than fixed wheels, pivoting on the spot so you won’t have to push it back and forth to reach those corners or gaps where Fluffy’s hair always seems to gather. With its washable filters and no costly vacuum bags to replace, it’s environmentally friendly, too!—Connie ($550, dyson.com)

9 This beautiful, hand-made art ornament from the lovely people at the Papered Orb is the perfect

way to remember my best friend. One-of-a-kind and special like a snowflake (just like my Elmo was).

—Melissa ($49, thepaperedorb.com)

10 Big-dog owners rejoice! Dean & Tyler’s Simple Treasure collar with elegant Western conchos and

BN

super-comfy Soft Touch leash are the perfect combination to put top-quality, high-style leathers on your fashion-starved big guys and gals. Why should little dogs have all the fun?—Marian (Collar/leash combo $50/$75, dtdogcollars.com)

&

11 Wanderlust = The Nomad dog house. Italian designer Marco Morosini’s canine “motorhome,” made of baked clay and platinum and part of his Dog is a God project celebrating the divine nature of our canine friends, is definitely the very opposite of a trashy trailer.—Jennifer (dogisagod.it)

12 Hats featuring dog art by Eric Ginsburg represent my uncompromising love for dogs, art, and funky freshness all the while protecting the delicate skin on my face from the sun’s harmful rays.

Thanks, Eric, for bringing it to the streets!—Jessica ($19, worldoferic.com)

13 Step into summer with this buzz-worthy Ella Bees collar from Pupperazi. It’s 100% cotton and washable so you can wash the dog park off.—Miniature Dachshund Rose ($20, pupperazi.com)

14 I love my super stylish, pink tote bag from Posh Puppy Boutique. The ever-so-cute pattern will definitely make you the envy of all your friends while the stain-resistant Crypton fabric ensures it continues to look good. It also comes with a little cosmetic bag!—Celine ($95, poshpuppyboutique.com)

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C an i ne news and rev i ews

The Pleat Sheet: Changing lives, one bed at a time

For eons, humankind has sacrificed comfort for canine cuddles, suffering chills and awkward exposure as sheets shift in the night, victim to stealth snugglers who sneak onto the bed,

taking the covers with them. How vexing! And yet how are we to say no to our favourite furry friends? Now, we don’t have to. Thanks to Premiere Pet Products, you can have your sheet and your snuggles, too. In an ingenious move, a pleat incorporated into the design allows the sheet to

The More Boys I Meet, The More I Like My Dog “The more boys I meet,” Carrie Underwood sings in her song “More Boys I Meet”, “The more I like my dog.” Maybe that’s why she makes such a perfect partner and poster girl for the sixth annual Pedigree Adoption Drive. Known for her Cinderella-esque rise to fame, her girl-next-door Southern charm, and her pint-sized, adorable dog Ace, Carrie Underwood is committed to changing the world, one number-one song, one fan, and one dog at a time.

“I have always been an animal lover,” she said to CBS. “They need help. There are four million that are in shelters, and they didn’t do anything to deserve to be there.” By teaming up with Pedigree for this year’s Adoption Drive, she hopes to generate awareness, funding, and food for shelter dogs. For every new fan of the Pedigree Adoption Drive on Facebook (facebook.com/pedigree), Pedigree will donate a bowl of food to feed shelter dogs. The page makes it easy to donate extra funds as well, a portion of which will be matched by Pedigree.

Currently, there are over 860 000 fans and over half a million dollars has been raised, though, as Carrie says, “People can always help more.” Whether it’s becoming a fan of Pedigree on Facebook, raising awareness, donating money, or volunteering to walk a shelter dog in your spare time; there is always something that can be done, and certainly no shortage of shelter dogs just waiting for a little bit of love.

14 moderndog SU MMER 2010

expand with added body weight, making room for your pet. Seriously revolutionary!

Find a new BFF on the go Who doesn’t frequently search petfinder.com, checking in on dogs for adoption and celebrating the ones who have a home pending? Now, thanks to the Petfinder iPhone app, you can keep tabs on your favourites, view complete pet information, add notes and comments, and get directions to the shelter on-the-go.

Next time

Keep tabs on your favourites.

the urge to play matchmaker strikes, just whip out your phone, start up the app, and pair up all your friends and acquaintances with a new four-legged best bud in their area. petfinder.com/promotions/ petfinder-iphone-app

THE SCOOP Ellen DeGeneres Gets Graphic After a groundbreaking sitcom, an Emmy-winning talk show, a judging spot on American Idol, a Modern Dog cover, and dance moves imitated around the world, Ellen Degeneres is being honoured in a very graphic way—as the subject of a graphic novel written by Sandra C. Ruckdeschel and illustrated by Pedro Ponzo.

The biographical comic, part of the “Female Force” series published by Bluewater, recounts all the highs and lows, from her stint in the stand-up comedy circuit to becoming one of the most beloved daytime television hosts. The series has also honoured Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and J.K. Rowlings, but Ellen’s is the best yet; in honour of Ellen’s lifelong support of animal welfare, part of the proceeds for the comic will go towards supporting The

From Wolf to Woof

It’s easy to see the wolf in a Husky, Akita, or even a Shiba Inu, but have you ever wondered how much wild was left in your Papillon, Poodle, or Min Pin? Thanks to Wolf to Woof: The Story of Dogs, the largest traveling exhibit ever to focus on the huge effect of dogs on human society, you may just be able to find out.

The exhibit, which features interactive displays, explores the close bond between humans and dogs dating back to prehistoric times, as modern dog breeds evolved out of wolves and human beings evolved alongside them. The traveling exhibit is at the Museum of Idaho until September 11th.

Humane Society of the United States. Available online through amazon.com.

Small Dog Army

Today the dog park, tomorrow the world!

Tired of her petits Chihuahuas being bullied by larger breeds at the local off-leash area, Scheri Manson of Edmonton, Alberta, founded Mighty Mutts, a small dog play date group that is gathering a veritable army of small dogs, prepared to take back the streets—or at least find their own place to play. With a little bit of creativity, a lot of chutzpah, and the support of the small dog community, Scheri held the first meet-up in April 2009 in an off-season hockey rink. Since then, Mighty Mutts has become one of the fastest-growing small dog play-date organizations in North America, gathering small-dog lovers together, attracting sponsors, fundraising for animal shelters, bringing in guest speakers, and inspiring others to start similar groups. Start your own size, breed or mutt specific meet-up at meetup.com.

Announcing the first ever Modern Dog Lookalike Contest!

Do you look like your dog?

Email photos of you and your lookalike dog along with your names, location, mailing address, and telephone number to lookalike@moderndogmagazine.com for your chance to be featured in the fall issue of Modern Dog.

16 moderndog SU MMER 2010

COOL THING

Make a wish. Take inspiration from celebrity style (Jennifer Aniston wore a wishbone necklace in He’s Just Not That Into You) and adorn your dog with Mascot’s cast brass Lucky Wishbone collar charm. $20, puplife.com

THE SCOOP

Surf Top Dog Sites

5 Fast Facts to Unveil at Your Next Social Gathering

Wiener Dogs Have Their Day dachshundlove.blogspot.com

t Tube

“Dachshundist” may not be a word but it definitely should be. For everything Doxie, from retro Dachshunds in film to Dachshunds on ice(!), check out dachshundlove.blogspot.com.

We’re big fans of these little dogs (Exhibit A: office dogs Rose and Esther, official Courier Chasers and Product Testers), and with all the adorableness in this blog, we don’t think you’ll be able to resist them either.

Pet Tube

Look up “hipster” on Wikipedia. Confused? Us too. Apparently it’s a subculture that defies definition, borrows liberally from the subcultures of the 1950s and 1960s, has an affected attitude of simply not caring, and has messy haircuts and possibly a moustache. Anyway, the hipster vibe has finally gone to the dogs. Check out this site for hours of hilarity, with funny pictures of dogs in various poses of snide and sneering disenchantment with popular culture, big budget movies, and preprocessed food.

Dogs don’t have appendixes, but they do have

5

The three dogs who survived the sinking of the

Toy breeds were carried in sleeves of people looking to stay warm in ancient China.

Turning in circles before lying down is an instinct that comes from the wild, where dogs

prostates (the only animal other than humans

Titanic were a Newfoundland, a Pekingese, and

a Pomeranian.

photo Scott Hess. Courtesy of the World’s Ugliest Dog ™ Contest, Sonoma-Marin Fair

Dogs Get Hip hipster.tumbler.com

4

into mosaics found on doorsteps.

to have them).

All Pet Videos, All The Time

Tube

In ancient Rome, “Beware the dog” was written

would turn circles to make beds from long grass.

Pet Tube pettube.com

We’ve all trolled the dark recesses of YouTube in search of the next viral dog video sensation, tearing up over excited dogs greeting their soldier-people upon return from Afghanistan, wincing as sleeping dogs ran into walls, and cooing over countless super-cute puppy videos—only to be greeted with something unsavory. (Warning: don’t use the search term “wonder wiener” in an attempt to dig up Dachshund footage.)

Now, the risk of running into something risqué is significantly lessened with PetTube.com, an all-pet video site filled with the hilarious, the touching, and the plain adorable. Easy to find, simple to navigate, and offering endless hours of entertainment, this site is a must for dog lovers everywhere.

1 2 3

Ugly Dog Contest Calling ugly dogs worldwide: here’s your chance to strut your stuff in hopes of taking home the title in

It Does a Body Good dog-milk.com Design junkies, get your daily dose of unique product finds and funny, fabulous commentary on this site. All the hippest, wackiest, and overthe-top dog offerings are catalogued in well-written, amusing posts that hit on everything from dog-house-silhouette décor to power-generating leashes. Whether you’re shopping for a gift for that impossible-to-buy-for-friend or just looking for the quirkiest dog gadget, this site is sure to have something that will intrigue you.

the 22nd annual World’s Ugliest Dog contest held June 25th at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, CA. Aside from the bragging rights that accompany having a titled dog, there’s the minimum of $1000 in prize money, the highly coveted trophy and international fame and fortune—including a feature in Modern Dog! For those unable to attend the actual event but in need of some recognition for their dog’s “unique” looks, upload photos to the just-for-fun online voting gallery already running. sonoma-marinfair.org moderndogmagazine.com

17

THE SCOOP Who needs opposable thumbs?

Even your dog can now tweet. It’s a dog’s life, and it just got digital It’s official, Twitter has gone to the dogs. Soon, the Twitterscape will be alive with the 140-character musings of our four-legged friends, freed from the tyranny of having to rely on their human counterparts to transcribe their daily reflections and adventures into the Roman alphabet.

Thanks to the brilliant minds at Mattel, we now have the power to be constantly connected to our dogs via their own Twitter streams. With the all-knowing power of their Puppy Tweets gadget, a plastic sound and motion detector you attach

New Hope for an Ancient Breed

to your dog’s collar, you’ll be updated on every nap, tail-chase, and scratch. Monitoring your dog’s movements, Puppy Tweets translates your dog’s behaviour into prerecorded tweets, like

The Dingo, Australia’s often reviled, shot, and poisoned wild dog, is under seige from another quarter: cross-breeding with domestic dogs. According to Dr. Alan Wilton, a Dingo genetics researcher from the University of New South

“YAHOOOOOOO! Some days you just gotta get your bark on” (this likely your cue to race home before your barking-besieged neighbours attempt to have you evicted). Get yours for just $30 in your choice of pink or blue.

Wales, the pure Dingo breed is near extinction, with most Dingo populations at least 80 percent hybrid and more mixing happening all the time.

However, a recent study showing that the Dingo may be the oldest breed of dog in the world may prove the key to the wild dogs’ survival. The study

Dingo world’s oldest dog.

Oh that? It’s just my phone barking Some people think that separation anxiety is only for dogs, but we’re pretty sure they’re wrong. Thanks to

indicates that, because the Australian dog has been geo-

the free iPhone app Shake & Bark, you

graphically separated from other breeds for thousands of

can take a little bit of your dog with

years, it, along with the New Guinea Singing Dog, now bears

you wherever you go. Record your

the closest genetic resemblance to all dogs’ wild ancestor,

dog’s bark, then play it back with a

the wolf.

shake of your phone whenever you

“Dingoes have been in a time capsule since they were brought to Australia 5,000 years ago,” Wilton says.

He hopes that the Dingo’s status as the world’s oldest dog will help spur conservation efforts to preserve the remain-

BARK

BARK

need a little bit of love to help with your puppy withdrawal. Or, just

BARK

BARK

use it to confuse people. Either way, it’s fun. Available through iTunes (itunes.apple.com).

ing purebred Dingoes in the wild.

Modern Dog Poll Results If possible, 54% would alter their dog’s DNA so he could talk.

This, and other bits of literary genius, from Planet Dog Magnetic Poetry, $10

Modern Dog Poll Would you accept a job with lesser pay if you could bring your dog to work?

Go to moderndogmagazine.com to vote.

18 moderndog SU MMER 2010

CH RE IC AL KE N !

Every dog is on JerHigh alert.

Just opening a packet of JerHigh Healthy Dog Snacks grabs your furry friend’s attention. That’s because they’re packed with real chicken meat and enriched with vitamins.

Available in a range of delicious flavors, treat your special family member to some JerHigh love today. We promise, the choice won’t go unnoticed.

Available at Wal-Mart (Canada only). jerhigh.com

Real chicken meat

100% human grade Available at

Rich in vitamins

WAL★MART

THE SCOOP Bark-worthy Brows

Calling all witty writers or writers at heart

Create a caption for this cartoon and submit your entry at moderndogmagazine.com/cartooncaption.

The top four most comic captions will be published in the next issue and will each win a one-year subscription to Modern Dog!

Tweezerman, the go-to beauty brand for perfect eyebrows, now adds philanthropy to their product’s appeal. With the Paw Print Mini Slant Tweezer and Matchbox Itty Bitty Files, you can now sculpt your brows to perfection while helping dogs in need: $1 from each Mini Slant Tweezer and $0.50 from each Matchbox Itty Bitty Files will go to the Humane Society of the United States or the Humane Society of Canada. Find this limited-edition collection while quantities last at Sephora, Ulta, Lord & Taylor, Neiman

Cartoon © 2010 by David Jacobson

Marcus in the US and London Drugs, Lawtons, PharmaPlus, Value Drug Marts and Pharmasaves in Canada.

And the winner

Illustration Vanessa dong

Cartoon © 2010 by David Jacobson

from the Spring issue is:

Smooth Move Moving is terribly stressful—both for people and pets. Top that off with a nerve-wracking plane ride, and relocating can seem like a particularly awful brand of torture.

Knock the anxiety down a notch with the Pet Bus. Of-

And then my owner said, “If Farley fetches that ball I’ll buy him a four course dinner.

Like I told ya’ babe—timing is everything!

Submitted by Ross Jamieson

Runner-up Captions: “...and if you wouldn’t mind, before you bring the next one could you hit the flush handle twice this time? We’d like to let it breathe a little more before we drink it.”

Submitted by Leslie Haddad

“Hey, look Honey, you and the waiter have the same groomer.”

Submitted by Anabelle L. Macri

“Are you celebrating anything special tonight?”

“Yes, it’s our first wedding anniversary.

For us that’s like seven years of marriage.”

Submitted by Derrick J. Landini

20 moderndog SU MMER 2010

fering door-to-door, stress-free ground transportation for pets within the continental US, the Pet Bus is a reasonablypriced and relaxing alternative to air travel. Founder Kathleen Gallagher keeps you in constant contact with your pup through a live Tailgating cam and daily letters home in the online Travel Tails

Knock the anxiety down a notch

journal. While dealing with the move, you can check in and watch (with envy) your dog as she’s treated to themed movie nights, pawjama parties, and soothing music. Recent customer Marni Murphy raves about their personal, professional, and prompt service, saying, “the best part was knowing that my puppy was with Kathleen and Steve and they were giving her kisses and taking care of her like their own.

I can see why they have repeat customers!” Check them out at thepetbus.com.

Petplan® covers all hereditary conditions and illnesses and even accidents that you never saw coming*.

Which means Petplan (the world’s largest pet insurance provider) could save you thousands each year. So you’re protected, your pets are covered and you won’t lose your appetite over your pet’s exotic tastes.

America’s #1 rated pe

1.866.GOPETPLAN

t insurance provider.**

www.gopetplan.com

* As long as the condition was not apparent prior to the effective date of the policy or occurs during the waiting period. Subject to annual policy limits of $8,000, $12,000 or $20,000. Limits are replenished in full on renewal. All coverage is subject to the applicable policy descriptions, conditions, limitations, exclusions and all state and federal laws. Policies are underwritten by American National Property And Casualty Company and North American Elite Insurance Company, Manchester, NH, a member of the Swiss Re Group (rated A (Excellent) by AM Best). ** According to independent review site www.petinsurancereview.com. ©Fetch Inc 03/10 PPADMD0310 Photo by Amanda Jones www.amandajones.com.

www.cozypuff.com Order Yours Today!

The 4th of July Cozy Puff

• Made of Polartec® the highest quality fleece • Retains warmth and wicks away moisture • New hypoallergenic, high loft, polyfill Cozy Puff is a safe, high quality product made 100% in the USA.

22 moderndog SU MMER 2010

Pup Profiles “I’m a Modern Dog!”

Ruby Dapple Dachshund Ruby is a rescue who now runs the household...tomorrow the world! Also known as “The Brain,” she likes anything that squeaks as well as canine musical freestyle. Favourite foods?

Latté foam and chicken.

Kosmo

Miniature Schnauzer Kosmo relaxes on his “Bark”-a-lounger. Kosmo lives in Pennsylvania, where he enjoys sleeping in, playing catch, and eating organic dog food.

Bella Adored English Bulldog Bella has two expressions: tongue in and tongue out. Her hometown is Vancouver and her favourite pastimes are playing and sleeping. She never met a food she didn’t like and has a special place in her heart for treats.

Coach Coach is a Lab/Border Collie rescue puppy and reputedly the best dog ever. Residing in Knoxville, TN, she goes by the handle “Muffin,” and likes “everything,” though she is especially into dog bones.

Petri Happy Petri is a 10-year-old Chow mix that made the move from Georgia, USA, to his new home in Canada. Judging from his expression, he’s settled in just fine!

Terza &Maverick Italian Greyhound + Puggle = best buddies. Terza (the little one) likes to tackle and pounce on Maverick. As you can see from this picture, if Maverick could talk, he’d say “Can’t a guy get a little sleep around here?!”

TaKoda

16-month-old Alaskan Malamute Koda is a natural musher, but, living in South Carolina, snow is hard to come by, so he loves bikejouring—and lying on every A/C vent in the house!

Kane Kane calls Kailua, Hawaii home. Likes: Water! Beach! Ball! Kisses! His nickname is Snarfles because of the weird noises he makes when excited. His favorite pastimes are ball, ball, ball, ball...and more ball!

Molly Molly is fearless, even in the face of a very hungry, much larger Great Pyrenees! She lives in Wasilla, Alaska, answers to the nickname Mow-Mow, and likes “Budgie” the stuffed Hedgehog, chasing birds on the beach, and ham—in short, the good life.

Is your dog modern? Want to see your pup profiled in the pages of Modern Dog? Enter online at moderndogmagazine.com/photocontest or email us at doggieprofile@ moderndogmagazine.com with a high-resolution photo and your doggie data for a shot at stardom! Featured dogs will be chosen by the Modern Dog editorial staff.

Assignment of rights applies; see full details at moderndogmagazine.com/photosubmission.

CALENDAR

Sizzlin’ Summer

Get out your date book! Hot, not-to-be missed events

July + August 31+01 Dachshund lovers, mark your calendars. Northwest Wienerfest (Elma, WA) is clearly the event of the summer.

Wiener dog races are rounded out with fun contests like Best Dressed and Best Nose, with proceeds benefiting Polycystic Kidney Disease Find a Cure and the Almost Home Dachshund Rescue Society. wienerfestnw.com

Co u rtesy Fox

June

4 Gather the kids. Marmaduke finally hits the silver screen, making the move from syndicated strip to the hallowed halls of Hollywood with the help of some bigname friends, like George Lopez, William H. Macy, and Owen Wilson, who provides the voice of the extra-large Great Dane himself. In theatres North America-wide.

6

Run wild in the Cotton Bowl when the Dallas, Texas, football stadium is transformed into the Dog Bowl, aka the biggest dog park ever. Enjoy events for man and beast alike, including opportunity for fame and fortune (c’mon, you know your dog has always wanted his picture on the Jumbotron!). Let Sparky take a dip in the doggie misting ponds while you enjoy an (adult) refreshment of your own.

Free admission! fairpark.org

13 World Pet Memorial Day: Gone but never forgotten. Take this day to remember the pets you’ve loved and lost.

25 Its Take Your Dog to Work Day! Advocate for co-workers adopting a dog while surprising yourself with how much you can get done in between walks, naps, and snack time (and see what it’s like to work at Modern Dog every day!). takeyourdog.com

12 + 13 Woofstock, the summer of love. Dog lovers and their furry friends rejoice as the largest dog festival in North America once again takes over Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood. woofstock.ca

24 moderndog SU MMER 2010

07 Forget shaking paws or rolling over, surfing is the hottest new trend in dog tricks. Make sure your dog stays ahead of the pack and masters this essential life skill at one of four surf clinics for dogs taught by San Diego Pet Training and the San Diego Surfing Academy. surfdog.kintera.org

21

Fight the good fight. Help battle breast cancer by participating in L’Oreal’s Your Dog is Worth it Too event (Cranbury, NJ) in support of the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure. yourdogisworthittoo.com

21 + 22

High fashion and haute hounds collide during Pet Fashion Week New York. This industryonly symposium and tradeshow highlights emerging trends, from avant garde grooming to canine couture. petfashionweek.com

29

Set that tail in motion at WAG! the dog-friendly festival held in Hilliard, Ohio.

Top off a dip at the Water Bark Beach with a doggie fashion show, a friendly game of Doggie Idol, a wilderness walk, or simply take in the sights. wagfest.com

ADVERTISEMENT

Solid Gold

Continues to Lead the Way, While other dog food companies follow In 1975, Solid Gold introduced Hund-n-Flocken, which was one of the first natural dog foods in the United States. Hund-n-Flocken (meaning dog food flake in German) had been a top seller in Germany for 20 years.

Solid Gold dog foods contain natural ingredients. Our goal is to provide the highest quality nutrition to our pets. We never use soybeans, wheat, or corn, which some dogs are highly allergic to. They can cause severe skin allergies as well as large vet bills due to hot spots and infections. Instead, we use grains such as amaranth, millet, and barley. We never use beet pulp, which is a commonly used source of fiber in many other dog foods.

Solid Gold was one of the first to use wild Alaskan salmon. However, in the past few years, government regulatory actions and depletion of natural schools have made it impossible to source enough wild caught salmon. We refuse to use farmed salmon, which are often fed genetically modified foods and can be contaminated with PCBs, so we are now using the very clean menhaden herring in all our dry dog foods.

Many of our foods also contain range fed bison, which is an extremely healthy meat being low fat and humanely raised.

It is very important to read the ingredient list on your pet’s foods as you will find many other companies use meat by products, the most common being chicken by-products. Solid Gold never uses meat by-products and we only use healthy fats full of omega fatty acids like canola oil, salmon oil, and flaxseed oil.

In addition, our food bags are hermetically sealed with a one way valve that allows air out, but not in. This helps keep our natural foods fresh.

At Solid Gold, we believe in being honest about our ingredients and our practices. We believe in better health through diet and nutrition. We answer to a higher power; that of our dogs and cats who look to us for their well being. They are cherished members of our families and deserve to live long, active lives. We feel feeding your pets Solid Gold will keep your pets happy and healthy.

Cute story…..

Did you know that the Ancient Chinese word for eclipse is “Shih”, which means “to eat.” If an eclipse was occurring, the people traditionally beat drums and banged pots to scare off the “heavenly dogs” believed to be devouring the sun.

Solid Gold is the only dog food company that is a member of the Organic Trade Association, the American Nutraceutical Association, the Medicinal Food Association, Nutraceutical Foods Association and the Life Extension Association.

For a catalog or store near you call or email us at: (619) 258-7356 or (619) 258-1914 (M-F 10-5 PST) or E-mail us at sarah@solidgoldhealth.com or www.solidgoldhealth.com Solid Gold Health Products for Pets, the Holistic Animal Nutrition Center 1331 N. Cuyamaca El Cajon, CA 92020

moderndog photo contest wınners!

smile!

Johnny

Popeye

Mango

Tofu

Zaira Aspen

Fianna

Fromax PeterPan 26 moderndog SU MMER 2010

Hugo

Maisy

Roman

Major, Blue & Misty Cheetah & Zamboni Tawny Winston Bernie & Izzy Annie & Finn

Tazz

Lucy

Ginger Think your dog ought to grace the pages of Modern Dog?

Reese

Shortcake 2 Tall

Judge & Hope

Send us photos of your picture-perfect pooch! The winning entries will be published in the Fall 10 issue. Send photos to: Modern Dog Photo Contest, Suite 202, 343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4. Submitted photographs are property of Modern Dog and will not be returned. Please include your name, dog’s name and breed, address and contact info, including telephone number. Please send 4 x 6 print photographs or enter online at moderndogmagazine.com. Assignment of rights applies; see full details at moderndogmagazine.com/photosubmission. moderndogmagazine.com

27

d pr bree

ofile

n a i t a m hts l g i l a e D D 1 10 The

By Marian Buechert

28 moderndog SU MMER 2010

h e a l t hy p ro d u c t s f o r d o g s

dark paint. The origins of the breed are not known. Some argue that the name Dalmatian comes from the Dalmatia region on the Adriatic Sea in eastern Europe. Others attribute it to a man named Jurij Dalmatin who may have been associated with the breed in the 16th century. Another theory is that the name is a corruption of dama-chien and that the Dally was originally bred to hunt fallow deer (dama is Latin for fallow, chien is dog in French).

Whether or not hunting was the Dalmatian’s original purpose, its most famous career path has been following horses; up hill and down, over rocky roads and through bustling towns, in snow, rain, and beating sun, the Dal has trotted faithfully behind cobs, coaches, and carriages. Most Dalmatians have a natural affinity for equine friends, making them ideal stable guardians and journey companions during a period when all transportation required real horsepower.

Fire wagons charging to the scene of a blaze might be accompanied by a bold Dalmatian, perhaps to clear the way for the firefighters or to ensure that the galloping horses were not harassed

K C M Y

Most Dalmatians have a natural affinity for equine friends, making them ideal stable guardians.

Fast-acting Optimally absorbed See the difference!

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The dashing Dalmatian has as many qualities to recommend him as he has spots sprinkled over his coat. But because the Dally’s other qualities are so often camouflaged by that eye-catching pattern, we’re going to pretend for a moment that he’s just a plain, white, monochromatic dog. We’re going to forget that he even has those you-know-whats.

In fact, no one really knows why Dalmatians look like they were standing too close when an artist shook out her brush full of

S u pp le me n t t h e L VE

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Advertisement: BiologicVET - “Supplement the Love: Fats Joint” Publication: Modern Dog Magazine, Summer 2010 Size: 1/2 vert (3.25" x 9.625")

1. That really cute spot right over his tail.

2. Sense of fun.

3. Those spots on his face.

4. Sleek, elegant look.

5. Intelligence.

6. The way a whole bunch of spots just about covers one ear.

7. Love of horses.

8. Spots between his toes.

9, 10, 11, 12…Well, we think you get the spot…er, point.

ok New lo ally Natur ally better taste!

Find the complete line at select Veterinarians, pet supply and health food stores.

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moderndogmagazine.com

29

by loose dogs in the street. Today, the dog that kept the firehouse and its stables clear of rats has evolved into a personable mascot and fire safety instructor, often used to teach children basic fire drills such as “Stop, Drop, and Roll” or how to crawl to safety in a burning building.

The breed also has a long history as a showman, from being a travelling performer with gypsy caravans and popularity as a circus clown, through to premier roles in advertising, TV, and movies. How many dog breeds can claim their own video game? The Dal has two: Escape from DeVil Manor and 102 Dalmatians: Puppies to the Rescue. With The 101 Dalmatians Musical currently hitting stages across the US, Dals are even garnering rave reviews in live theatre.

The dog stars of the musical illustrate an important point, however: many of them are rescue dogs that were adopted from shelters. Dalmatians are high-energy, intelligent dogs with a need to be with people and to do something, like the amazing work they perform on stage. Unfortunately, too many people acquire Dalmatians after seeing a cute cartoon or for their appearance alone and without considering that they may not be the right owners for this breed. When their little Patch or Penny turns into an adult dog with exercise demands and willful personality, they dump the “problem” at the local humane society.

Another reason Dalmatians may end up at a shelter is hearing disabilities; the Dalmatian Club of America’s official Position on Dalmatian Deafness states that from 10 to 12 percent of the breed is deaf. Opinions vary on how difficult it is to own a deaf dog. Some experts warn against it, while others argue that with some extra attention and training, deaf dogs can lead happy and full lives. (For more on training a deaf dog, see page 88 in this issue.)

Hearing disabilities are inherited in Dalmatians and, while dedicated breeders are working to eliminate deafness through testing and careful breeding, anyone who wants to live with a Dal must be aware of the potential problem.

Other health concerns for the Dalmatian include urinary stones and allergies affecting the skin. A planned diet can go a long way toward controlling both of these conditions.

The average Dalmatian is a happy, athletic dog designed for long-distance running. The American Kennel Club breed standard describes him as “strong, muscular, and active…poised and alert…capable of great endurance combined with a fair amount of speed.” His coat must be pure white with short, fine hair and markings of either dense AKC Ranking: #75 in popularity black or “liver” (dark brown)—no other colours Size: Medium—19 to 23 inches are acceptable. Nose colour must match the spots.

Grooming: Low Whoops—did we just say spots?

Activity level: High Oh, to heck with it—how can we celebrate Heritage: Coach dog the Dalmatian without saying how we love his US Rescue: Dalmatian Club of America unique look? Take away those splashy markthedca.org ings and the Dal would still be a dog of 100 delights—but the spots make it 101. n Canadian Rescue: Dalmatian Club of Canada

Profile:

The Dalmatian

dalmatianclubofcanada.ca

30 moderndog SU MMER 2010

ph tos to p to botto m: Ansel1© 200 1/Deborah Samu el; Ansel2© 20 0 1/Deborah Sam uel

Dalmatians are high-energy, intelligent dogs with a need to be with people.

moderndogmagazine.com

31

petproject

craft

D.I.Y.

Fig 1

Travel Blanket This lightweight blanket takes up as little space as possible and can be folded flat to fit into your luggage or rolled up in your handbag or pet carrier. The blanket pictured is 100 percent cotton in a floral print with a soft, comfy fleece for the backing. A printed cotton fabric contrasts well with a plain, cushioned backing fabric like fleece, but you can use any washable fabric of your choice.

Materials Pattern paper Tape measure Scissors for paper and fabric Patterned cotton fabric for the top panel Fleece fabric for the backing Pins Sewing machine and thread Double-fold bias tape in a matching colour [see sidebar for buying tip]

32 moderndog SU MMER 2010

Fig 2

Cutting Out the Fabric Decide how long you would like your blanket to be. Do this by cutting a large piece of pattern paper, sitting your dog in the middle, and drawing a rectangle 6 to 8 inches (15–20cm) away from his body all the way around. Your dog should have enough space to lie down on his side. As a guide, my blanket sizes are as follows: small, 24” x 20” (60 x 50 cm); medium, 40” x 24” (100 x 60 cm); large, 48” x 40” (120 x 100 cm). Cut a paper pattern to your chosen size, fold it in half [crosswise], then in half again [crosswise], then draw a curve [in the outside corner] so that when you open out the paper you will have a rectangle with four evenly curved corners. Use the pattern to cut out a top and bottom panel in patterned cotton fabric and fleece. Cut a 1 3/4” x 36” (4 x 90 cm) strip of each fabric for the strap.

Making Up the Blanket

this position with a pin. Fold the strap in half [crosswise] to find the center point [of its length], and mark this with a pin. Pin the strap right [cotton] side up on to the blanket at the marked points, making sure it is perpendicular to the edge of the blanket (see Fig. 3). Machine-stitch across the strap, matching the stitch line attaching the bias tape underneath. n

Place the top and bottom panels together with the wrong sides facing, and pin them in place. Machine-stitch the two fabrics together, keeping as close to the edge as possible so that the stitching will not show outside the bias-tape edging (see Fig. 1).

Once the two panels have been sewn together, pin the double-fold bias tape all the way around the edge of the blanket, encasing the raw edges. Start in the center of the one side of the blanket, and ease the bias tape around the curved corners. Leave enough hem allowance to overlap the edges at the join before you cut the bias tape. Machine-stitch all the way around, sewing as close to the edge of the bias tape as possible, but making sure that you catch both sides of the bias tape within the line of stitching (see Fig 2).

Making Up the Strap

Iris, Suds and Lola love their Flare collection. They happily lounge on their bed and blanket and enjoy a meal with their bowls and feeding mat.

Roll up your blanket and check that the tie will be the correct length. Trim it if necessary, and cut curves around the corners of the ends to make it easier to attach the

Tip Fig 3

bias tape. Pin the cotton and fleece strips together with wrong sides facing, and machine-stitch all the way around. Pin bias tape around the edge of the strap, easing it around the corners and machine-stitching it close to the edge.

Attaching the Strap to the Blanket Lay the blanket right [cotton] side up.

Measure about 4 1/2” (11 cm) from the corner along one short edge, and mark

Make sure to buy enough bias tape to go around the perimeter of your blanket and the edges of the strap.

Example For a medium blanket 40” x 24” (100 x 60 cm), you will need: Two times the length (80” or 200 cm) + Two times the width (48” or 120 cm) + A bit of overlap for the join (2” or 5 cm) AND Two times the length of the strap (72” or 180 cm) + Two times the width (3½” or 9 cm) + Overlap (2” or 5 cm) For a grand total of 207 ½” (520 cm) or 5 ¾ yards (5.2 m)

*

From the book Canine Couture, 25 Projects: Fashion & Lifestyle Accessories for Designer Dogs by Lilly Shahravesh. Published by St. Martin’s Press (2008).

Used by permission.

{yep yup} introduces the complete collection of pet and home accessories

Visit us at yepyup.com to see our unique collections. Each collection includes: hanging pet organizer, bowls, feeding mat, storage jar, collars, leashes, charm, pet beds, throw blanket, and throw pillows.

Collection shown: Flare

yepyup.com

moderndogmagazine.com

33

Great nose.

Great taste.

DURING THE MONTH OF MAY

1

$ 00

IS PROUDLY DONATED TO

See Ya Later Ranch is happy to donate $1.00 for every bottle sold during the month of May to the BCSPCA to help end animal cruelty.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

34 moderndog SU MMER 2010

sylranch.com

$5 $6

You’re so naughty! Naughty Naughty Pets’ wonderfully weird beach-blanket plaid change purse is a steal at just $5, leaving you plenty of coin to tuck inside. furrynfabulous.com

Hip Doggie’s Organic Loofah Beach Set is a meatflavoured, 100% vegetable seaside toy set that doubles as a natural teeth cleaner— multi-tasking your dog can get down with! hipdoggie.com

$5

West Paw’s adorable, corduroy teddy bear will fast become your petit pup’s new BFF. Perfect for small-breed dogs, this tiny teddy squeaks with every tackle. orangedog.ca

$8

Play your way through the lazy days of summer with this floppy, crinkly butterfly toy, a colourful reminder of the season. hagen.com

Earth-friendly style.

Conveniently tote poop bags in the Avenue Waste Bag Holder from Eco-Pup. Made of reclaimed material, each one is unique. ecopup.ca

Sending out a play date invitation? Stamp this cute mutt’s mug on fabric or paper. etsy.com/shop/ craftpudding

Best Budget Buys, all under $10 $10

$8

$10

$6

Tie on some retro style with the Mod Dog’s Scout bandana, each adorned with a vintage patch. moddog.ca

Clip Popware For Pets’ super-convenient

collapsible travel cups to your backpack, belt loop or leash for drinks on the go. popwareforpets.com

$3

Veterinarian-formulated Petrol is like Vitamin Water for dogs. Packed with vitamins and 100% natural flavorings, it’s perfect for picnics. After all, why should River be the only one drinking plain old water? petrolfordogs.com

$10

BBQ in the works?

Whip up a batch of dog-approved pupcakes with Lucky Paws’ organic Cakes 2 Go mix. luckypaws.biz

moderndogmagazine.com

35

Dog People vs Cat People Are there real personality differences?

By Stanley Coren

Illustration by Rachel Gordon

I

was having coffee with a friend of mine who is a professor Certainly the relationship between cats and humans has always of psychology. As we chatted, he brought up the fact that he been quite different than the relationship between dogs and peohad broken off his relationship with a woman he had been ple. This reflects the behaviours that both species have kept from seeing. “I’m a dog person and she’s a cat person, and they their heritage prior to domestication. don’t mix well,” he explained. “We’re really like the animals that In the wild, cats are usually solitary hunters and often are we love. Dogs have families and are grateful for what they get, active mostly at night. Juliet Clutton-Brock of the Natural History while cats simply expect to be taken care of and show no eviMuseum in London calls the cat an “exploited captive” rather than dence of thankfulness and loyalty.” a domesticated animal. Cats are the least tame of our household My friend’s comments seem to reflect a common perception, pets but are surprisingly successful for a species that retains so according to a study conducted at Ball State University. Pet ownmuch of its wildness. ers were surveyed about their personalities and their pet ownerIn contrast, wild canines are usually sociable pack animals ship. In general, the results showed that people believe that their that work in groups and are active between dawn and dusk. Our own personalities are similar to those of the pets they keep. Cat domestic dogs retain this need for social interaction to the degree owners saw themselves as being more independent while dog that without a master and a family, a dog seems unhappy—almost owners described themselves as being friendly. lost.

Virtually any discussion among pet owners is Dogs will intrude on a person’s ongoing activi“We’re really bound to reveal clearly that there are dog people ties if they are feeling lonely and want some comlike the and there are cat people. In some cases, the depth pany or play. Cats, on the other hand, are often animals that of feeling for their chosen species can be quite invisible during the day, seeming only to appear in we love.” intense. However, according to an Associated the evening, especially if that is when they are fed.

Press/Petside.com poll, there are a lot more dog Cats will occasionally engage in social activities or people out there; 74 percent of the test sample like dogs a lot, play with people, but their interest is limited. Usually, after only while only 41 percent like cats a lot. a few minutes, cats will abandon the game and wander away.

It also seems that that some people seem to be quite exclusive Dogs on the other hand, will often engage in play, like fetching a in their preferences, liking either dogs or cats and loathing the thrown ball, for hours at a time, and it is usually the human that other species. Cats appear to be much easier to hate: 15 percent quits the game first. of the adults questioned said they disliked cats a lot while the Recently, Sam Gosling, a psychologist at the University of Texas number who said they disliked dogs a lot was only 2 percent. in Austin and his graduate student, Carson Sandy, conducted a There are sound reasons to suspect that the preference for dogs web-based study in which 4,565 individuals were asked whether or cats reflects some underlying human personality differences. they were dog people, cat people, neither, or both. The same

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Elton John’s

over 30 Corgis during her reign, keeping at least four in her pack at all times, and has even introduced a new breed—the “Dorgi”—when one of them mated with a Dachshund.

dog, Arthur, a Cocker Spaniel, was not only a guest but the best man at his wedding to David Furnish.

Robert Pattinson

Film producer/screenwriter/director George Lucas is an ardent dog lover. In fact, the Star Wars character Chewbacca was inspired by Lucas’ large, furry Alaskan Malamute Indiana.

Lia Toby /WENN.com

told Details magazine that his “only emotional connection of relevance is with my dog. My relationship with my dog, it’s ridiculous.”

Drew Barrymore credits her rescued Lab/ Chow cross, Flossie, for saving her and then-boyfriend Tom Green from a house fire by barking and thumping on the bedroom door.

Barrymore subsequently bequeathed the renovated house to Flossie.

WENN

Martha Stewart recently added a baby Chow Chow named Ghenghis Khan to her pack.

Ghenghis likely provides all manner of inspiration to Martha’s Frenchies, Francesca and Sharkey, who write the “Daily Wag” on marthastewart.com/pets.

Audrey Hepburn’s Yorkshire Terrier, Mr. Famous— well named as he’s perhaps one of the most famous Yorkies ever—appeared with her in Funny Face.

Things weren’t always black-and-white with Richard Nixon, but his dog was, garnering the pup the name Checkers.

Andy Warhol once wrote, “I never met a pet I didn’t like.” But his one true love was Archie, a Dachshund who became his alter ego to the extent that, during interviews, Warhol would deflect to the dog questions he didn’t want to answer.

Actress Blake Lively is rarely seen without her precious pup, Penny, the curly-furred Maltipoo who frequently accompanies her on the set of Gossip Girl and on shopping trips, too.

Songstress

Nikki Nelson / WENN

Queen Victoria loved dogs and her favourite, Islay, is immortalized in bronze sculpture by the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney, Australia.

Patricia Schlein/WENN

Sarah McLachlan lends her song “Angel” as well as her celebrity to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as a prominent supporter in the fight against animal cruelty. Her ties to the group are so well known that it recently inspired a send-up on Saturday Night Live.

Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett—perhaps inspired by his dog, Cheeseburger [in Paradise?]— sponsors the Jamaican Dogsled Team through his many ventures, most notably his restaurant chain, Margaritaville.

Napoleon was saved from drowning by a Newfoundland.

38 moderndog SU MMER 2010

O

John Jr.’s sister Caroline Kennedy’s childhood pup was a Welsh Terrier named Charlie, said to have been a gift from Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev.

WENN.com

Animal adoption is Oprahapproved. Her Cocker Spaniel, Sadie, is from PAWS Chicago, the city’s largest no-kill shelter.

Il l ustration R Achel Gordon

Queen Elizabeth II has owned

Ray Garbo / WENN.com

Famous Dog Lovers

Dog people were generally about 15 percent more extroverted and 13 percent more agreeable. group was given a 44-item assessment that measured them on the so-called Big Five personality dimensions psychologists often use to study personalities.

Gosling summarized his results, saying, “There is a widely held cultural belief that the pet species—dog or cat—with which a person has the strongest affinity says something about the individual’s personality, and this research suggests there are significant differences on major personality traits between dog people and cat people.”

Just on the basis of the nature of dogs being more sociable than cats, one might expect that the personalities of dog lovers would also reflect higher sociability. The results showed that dog people were generally about 15 percent more extroverted and 13 percent more agreeable, both of which dimensions are associated with social orientation. In addition, dog people were 11 percent more conscientious than cat people. “Conscientiousness” is a tendency to show self-discipline, to complete tasks, and aim for achievement. The trait shows a preference for planned rather than spontaneous behavior.

In comparison, cat people were generally about 12 percent more neurotic; however, they were also 11 percent more “open” than dog people. The openness trait involves a general appreciation for art, emotion, adventure, unusual ideas, imagi-

nation, curiosity, and variety of experience. People high on openness are more likely to hold unconventional beliefs while people with low scores on openness (dog people) tend to have more conventional, traditional interests.

Gosling’s recent study seems to confirm the findings of research that I did for my book Why We Love The Dogs We Do (Free Press; 1998). I used a different personality measure, namely the Interpersonal Adjective Scale, because I was mainly interested in items reflecting social interactions and social tendencies. It gives scores on four scales; extroversion, dominance, trust, and warmth (which is close to “agreeableness” on Gosling’s measure).

My study involved 6,149 people, aged 16 to 94. I attempted to get as many dog owners as I could, so this group included 3,362 dog owners, but also, 1,223 people who only owned cats and 1,564 people that owned neither a cat nor a dog.

My results showed that people who owned only cats seemed to be somewhat different than dog owners or people who owned both dogs and cats in terms of their personalities. People who own both dogs and cats seem to be much like people who own only dogs. You should keep this in mind, since from here on, at least for the purposes of this discussion, when I mention a cat owner I mean someone who lives only with a cat, while, when I mention dog owners, I mean a person who owns a dog or both a dog and a cat.

According to my data, cat owners were one third more likely to live alone than dog owners and twice as likely to live in an apartment or flat. Being married, living in a house, and having children living in the home, are all factors that are more likely for dog owners than cat owners. A single woman was the most likely individual to have a cat. Of the people who grew up in a house with cats as pets, 47 percent were likely to have cats today, while only 11 percent of people whose childhood years were spent in a house with a dog have only a cat as a pet.

*

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Turning to the personality profile of the person who owns only cats, we find a reasonable overlap with Gosling’s recent findings.

To begin with, we find that people who own only cats tend to be relatively introverted (low on extroversion) and also reasonably cool (low in warmth or agreeableness) which is the pattern confirmed by Gosling’s more recent data.

Looking at the other two measures, we find that cat owners are relatively low in dominance. People who are high on dominance are generally described as being forceful, assertive, persistent, selfassured, and self-confident. They are the people who stand out in

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39

Famous Cat Lovers

WENN.com

Gary Oldman, who

When not tending to the sick,

Florence Nightingale tended to the sixty-plus cats she owned over her lifetime, including her favourite, a Persian named Mr. Bismarck.

plays Sirius Black, Harry Potter’s godfather in the movie franchise, is said to be“sirius” about his cat, Soymilk.

Marlon Brando immortalized a stray cat he found on the movie lot during filming of The Godfather by having his character Don Corleone hold the cat in the film.

Pope Benedict XVI’s affinity for all felines extends especially to Chico, the short-haired black-andwhite cat who still lives in the Pope’s home back in Tubingen, Germany, as well as the strays he used to feed in the streets.

Judy Eddy / WENN.com

Vanna White plays

Amy Winehouse

Tony Clark/WENN.com

The civil war was coming to a close, yet Abraham Lincoln still found time to house three stray kittens. He also once famously said, “No matter how much cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens.”

Last August,

mom to cats Kiki and Stella when not playing on Wheel of Fortune.

Mark Twain proved his affection for felines with the words, “When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade, without further introduction.”

Descendents of Ernest Hemingway’s many cats still live at The Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West Florida. Some of the approximately 60 cats residing there are polydactyl, descendents of a six-toed cat given to Hemingway by a ship’s captain. Hemingway’s love of cats has even inspired a book, Hemingway’s Cats: An Illustrated Biography (2006, Pineapple Press) by Carlene Fredericka Brennen.

John Lennon’s first cat (besides childhood pets) was named Mimi, after his cat-loving aunt. He had many over his lifetime, some inspiring sketches.

Ironically,

cats. Two Siamese named Frank Sinatra and Miles Davis are part of Snoop’s posse.

Grimalkin, which has several meanings, including old or evil-looking female cat.

Charles Dickens’ kitten would snuff out the candle in order to draw his master’s attention away from his work, but despite the disturbance he was still known to have said, “What greater gift than the love of a cat?”

40 moderndog SU MMER 2010

Regis Philbin buena vista television

WENN.com

Snoop Dogg loves

Nostradamus called his cat

posed as her cat, Shirley, on Facebook as a way to secretly communicate with, and hopefully win back, her estranged husband Blake Fielder-Civil, who, incidentally, was in rehab (I say no, no, no) at the time.

shared a close bond with his cat, Ashley, who went blind before passing away at age twenty.

Legend has it that Mohammed, founder of the Muslim faith, loved cats so much that, having to get up to pray, he cut his sleeve off to avoid waking a sleeping cat.

social gatherings as opposed to people who are low in dominance that come across as being more timid, bashful, shy, and unaggressive. The final dimension that I looked at was trust, and cat owners appear to be fairly trusting. People high on this dimension are often described as obliging, modest, straightforward, and “good sports.” People low on this dimension can be more suspicious and manipulative.

The general pattern that comes out of both studies is that dog owners are more social, interactive and accepting. One dog person’s explanation of this was: “You have to have a good sense of humor to successfully own dogs.” Contrast this to cat owners (remember this is people who prefer cats exclusively) who are more introverted, self-contained, and interact less socially. A psychologist who is also a dog owner suggested, “Maybe the reason that cat people tend to be more introverted and seem to prefer to be indoors is because they can’t walk their cat.”

Perhaps one of the most telling differences between dog and cat owners is illustrated in a single comparison. I asked people who own only cats, “If you had adequate living space and there were no objections from other people in your life, and someone gave you a puppy as a gift, would you keep it?”

More than two thirds of the cat owners (68 percent) said that they would not accept a dog as a pet, while almost the same number of dog owners (70 percent), said that they would admit the cat into their household when asked the same question but about a kitten. This suggests that most people who own only a dog are potentially dog and cat owners, while most people who own only a cat are exclusively cat owners.

My friend sipped on his cup of coffee and continued to muse about the differences between dog people and cat people, and perhaps about his recently ended relationship.

“You know there is some research data that suggests that more cat people than dog people are atheists. You couldn’t tell this based on my experience, which is that cat people seem to worship their felines like the ancient Egyptians worshiped their pharaohs—as gods. We dog lovers just talk to our hounds like people.” n

6

Little Diva, Italian Greyhound bronze

by Tammy Bality

If the 60s were all about free love, the 10s are all about puppy love. Don’t miss Woofstock, the biggest outdoor dog festival of all time. The groovy fest takes over Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market area June 12 and 13. woofstock.ca 5

3

Get some culture. The

AKC Museum of the Dog in St. Louis, MO, houses over 700 works of art depicting man’s best friend throughout the ages. museumofthedog.org 1

7

1

2

Get fit and have fun.

There are tons of dog-

Lack artistic chops but want a fun, kitschy outlet for your creativity? Order a custom paint-by-numbers kit—just upload a photo of you and your dog together—then head to the park to work on your family portrait masterpiece. easy123art.com 5

friendly 5K & 10K races

Brian Cardu ner/Hair of the d og 5k

happening all summer long, North America-wide. Let your dog motivate you to get in shape and meet other likeminded people! Just Google “5K races” and your location for a list of races happening near you. 5

42 moderndog SU MMER 2010

from Basecamp Spitsbergen in Norway with a team of Huskies. They have 85 majestic dogs that pull sleds (equipped with wheels in the summer) year-round. basecampexplorer.com 1

5

8

Visit Carmel-By-the- 1 Sea. Take your pup for

a little pampering at this California dream destination for dogs around the world, boasting dog-friendly inns and restaurants, and even an iconic Fountain of Woof, a dogs–only drinking fountain. carmelcalifornia.com

July is Dog House Repairs Month (serious-

ly). Use the warm, sweet summer months to catch up on that doghouse maintenance you’ve been putting off.

Renovate Fido’s second storey, add an extra room in the back, or simply re-shingle and repair the winter damage. Then watch your dog head straight indoors to claim his rightful spot on the couch. 5

bestfriendsh ome .co m

16 Sweet Ideas for Summer Fun

Sled through the Bolterdalen and Adventdalen Valleys

Photo bringfido.com

Sweet 16 4

Hit the trails! Nothing says summer like venturing into the great outdoors, just you, Fido and Mother Nature. Find out where dogs are allowed and what restrictions apply at bringfido.com, where you’ll find listings for over 5000 dog friendly trails worldwide. 5

Brush up on training and gain insight into how your own behaviour cues your dog’s—read Patricia McConnell’s classic training tome The Other End of the Leash (Ballantine Books, 2003).

12

Arm yourself with a super easy-to-use, pocket-sized Flip video camera (theflip.com),

playing Petz Dogz Talent Show on Wii. 5

outfit your dog with Uncle Milton’s clip-on Pet’s Eye View digital camera (unclemilton.com), then hit the park (Or the beach.

Or the mall, for that matter). Share with friends or post on that aforementioned blog! (Check out Modern Dog office-dog Esther’s collar-cam photos at moderndogmagazine. com/gallery/esthers-photos).

13 10

Have an outdoor dog wash

with all your dog friends. Gather all your pup pals together for an outdoor dog wash, retro-style, with puppy pools, sponges, and buckets, to raise money for a local animal shelter. Spruce up the event with a barbecue and a few water fights and have a pawesome time while raising money for a great cause. 1

Start a blog to

16

14

ph oto sk ydo gsports.c om

11

5

chronicle all the summer fun you and your dog get up to. Just pick a catchy name and start posting!

Two free sites to try are wordpress.com and blogspot.com. 5

Volunteer! Get

Dachshunds, 1 particularly the speedy ones, rule at Wienerfest 2010, held July 3 in Thamesford, ON. All proceeds go to the Tiny Paws Dog Rescue of Canada. wienerfest.ca

15

Too hot for the dog park?

Hide from the heat while still getting your dose of dogs by

out into the community with your dog to do your part. From training Fluffy as a therapy dog, signing up Rex to participate in a reading program for kids, creating a fundraising block party for your local shelter or simply offering to walk your elderly neighbour’s dog—the possibilities are endless! Just use your imagination and have fun.

Join the worldwide scavenger hunt. Open an

account at geocaching. com and then head to pawsawhileoc.com, a site dedicated to the exciting pastime of dogcaching.

Once you’re set up, spend the summer in the great outdoors, Fido by your side, searching for buried treasure. For more information on geocaching, check out moderndog magazine.com/geo caching. 5

edward komar

9

Summer school!

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Tink + Pink Hero Dachshund mothers orphaned piglet

By Melissa Barr

B

orn prematurely on a frigid February night in West Virginia along with 11 healthy, hungry piglet siblings, tiny Pink, his eyes sealed shut, was not breathing on his own. Johanna Kerby cleaned him up and got him breathing, but he was rejected by his littermates, who had no time or patience for a piglet so small. Unable to eat or stand without help, Pink could do little more than whimper quietly. The other piglets pushed him from the pen; it was too cold and he was too small to survive alone.

Luckily for little Pink, heroes come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. His rescuer came in the form of Tink, short for Tinkerbelle, an extraordinary Dachshund who makes a habit of fostering “pups” of all types.

Tink’s story isn’t without its heroes, either. After the Kerbys bought her through a newspaper ad, Tink arrived ragged, raw in places, and flea-infested.

With love and care, she grew up to become an amazing foster mother who doesn’t discriminate.

When Pink was born, Tink was already taking care of her own pup as well as a few other fosters from another Dachshund momma overburdened with too many pups. Though Tink already had a Johanna and a smiling brood to look after, she didn’t hesitate, kissing the Tink visit with a full-grown Pink in his little hog barn.

44 moderndog su mmer 2010

photo Johan n a Ker by

Pink at five months doing his best “Wilbur” impression. He has just eaten a marshmallow snack (his favourite) and smiles for the camera.

The proud mama and and her brood.

tiny piglet all over and snuggling up close, tucking him under her chin to keep him warm while he slept. She nursed him, encouraged him to eat, and became even more protective of him than of her other pups.

Pink stayed with Tink for five and a half weeks, cuddling up close to his new puppy littermates, sleeping in piles of pups, kept warm by their fur and their snuggling. He learned some dog tricks, too, before joining the other pigs in the barn. Now, at a heavy 250 pounds, he barely resembles the tiny, helpless piglet he once was.

Life with Tink and the pups left its mark, however. Pink still remembers how to sit like a dog, especially when bribed with marshmallows. And he’s very friendly and loves people. Pink has earned himself a forever home on the Kerbys’ farm.

“Pink is a happy, easy-going pig and we all love him very much,” Kerby says. “We will keep him forever.”

Pink celebrated his first birthday in grand style, complete with a marshmallow and gummy worm cake, a dog bone, and his very own birthday hat.

As for Tink, she still gets down to the barn to visit her baby every now and again, though she is intimidated by his large size, and only visits him through the fence. She still loves baby piglets, though, wiggling all over and licking them whenever a new litter is born.

Since adopting baby Pink, Tink has gone on to save the life of a goat, Spencer, who lost his mother soon after birth. The Kerby children found the baby goat almost frozen and unable to walk.

They brought him inside and Tink snuggled up with him, licked him until he was warm and nudged him with her little nose until he could walk again.

Inspired by the story of Tink and Pink, Kerby wrote a children’s book titled Little Pink Pup (available June, 2010). To catch up on farm life in West Virginia and to see how Pink and Tink are doing, go to johannakerby.com. n

The other piglets pushed him from the pen; it was too cold and he was too small to survive alone.

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45

nutrition

eat

D.I.Y.

Take advantage of local in-season produce and whip up this easy, healthy summer recipe for you and your dog to share >>Sweet Summer Treat for Dogs

Sardine & Apricot Summer Slushie This recipe is inspired by traditional Chinese medicine and uses foods that tone the blood and Qi. The ingredients used in this recipe are neutral in traditional Chinese medicine.

Turkey Salad

Mix & Match Turkey Salad This salad is a great way to incorporate fresh, raw fruit into your dog’s diet—and yours! This recipe is bursting with fruity flavours and antioxidants. Choose in-season ingredients from your local farmer’s market for the most sustainable recipe possible.

Suitable for dogs and for people.

2 cups free-range turkey, cooked, cooled and cut into small cubes 2 Tbsp dried cranberries 1 Tbsp organic flax seeds or dried coconut ½ cup diced cucumbers ¼ cup chopped romaine lettuce Mix and match up to 2 cups of : cubed watermelon cubed cantaloupe diced fresh peaches diced fresh apricots sliced fresh strawberries blueberries

46 moderndog su mmer 2010

1 cup plain, organic yogurt On human portion only: honey and/or sea salt, to taste 1. Mix turkey, cranberries, and flax seed or coconut.

2. Gently stir in cucumbers, lettuce, and fruit of your choice.

3. Blend in yogurt and serve immediately.

4. Sprinkle sea salt and drizzle honey on human portions, if desired.

¼ cup dried apricots ¼ can pumpkin (not pie mix) 1 can low-sodium sardines in oil or water ½ cup cooked millet ½ cup plain, live-culture yogurt 1 tsp powdered spirulina (optional) 1. Drain the sardines. Combine all ingredients together in a bowl and stir gently until thoroughly mixed.

2. Freeze the mixture until it’s a slushie-like consistency or freeze in ice cube trays and serve as a summer treat!

Caveat: Never add grapes, raisins, or onions as these have the potential to cause kidney failure in dogs.

*

These recipes were created especially for Modern Dog by Lucy Postins, author of Made Out of Love: Recipes to Prepare (and Sometimes Share With) Your Animal Companion (Lucy Postins: 2009). For more great recipes, check out the book!

Summer Slushie

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dogsport

High Flyin’ Disc Dogs Calling all Frisbee Addicts: Could this be the sport for you?

Photographed by Steven Donahue

48 moderndog su mmer 2010

I

t’s estimated that over a million dogs in the US alone play with flying discs with their owners. Why not take it to the next level? The athletic feats performed by champion disc dogs are nothing short of gasp-inducing, but any Fido can be a disc dog. Border Collies tend to dominate the sport but even little dogs can excel. In fact, with the right amount of training and patience, even the most stubborn, destructive, hyperactive dog can learn to channel those impulses into becoming a high-flying champion. Not only is this sport accessible to all dog breeds, it is helpful for overcoming many of the behaviours that cause owner-surrenders at shelters, like prey drive and hyperactivity. In fact, dogs with prey drive and herding instinct are generally the best at disc dogging! You may just find that it’s your throw that requires the most effort. Lucky for you, your dog will likely chase down and return those errant tosses with joy.

Disc dog competitions are generally divided into two categories: Toss and Fetch, and Freestyle. In Toss and Fetch, the handler and dog have sixty seconds to throw the disc as many times as they can on the playing field with the dog fetching the disc. The distance the disc travels is measured and points are awarded—an extra half-point may be awarded for completely airborne catches.

For Freestyle, short routines are choreographed and set to music. Multiple discs are used, and the most athletic dogs are able to do flips (for professionals only!), jumps, vaults, and catch a quick succession of throws. Dogs are judged on canine athleticism, degree of difficulty, and showmanship. This part of competition is a crowd favourite and shows the highest level of competitive accomplishment.

The pinnacle of the sport is to take one of the championships, such as the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge (from which the accompanying photos were taken), the Canine Frisbee Disc World Championship, or Skyhoundz World Canine Disc Championship. If you’re interested in teaching your dog the tricks of the trade, check out the Disc Dog Training DVD, available through skyhoundz.com.

ton and Border Collie Laika How low can you go? Chris Sex 2004 Purina Incredible Dog the in e plac get down to take first ndo, Florida.

Orla in ls Challenge Eastern Regiona

d Kirby McIlveen an ture Border Collie Pic ow off Perfect Sketch sh rtive e siv es pr im some rina cal at the 2009 Pu enge all Incredible Dog Ch ls in Western Regiona rnia. lifo Ca o, eg Di n Sa

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49

Go big or go ho and the aptly me. Todd Murnan a Belgian M named Big Air Bella, al leaping skill inois, show off highs Incredible D at the 2009 Purina og Challeng e Gray Summ it, Missouri. Finals in

Serious air.

G Rat Terrier fr eorge, a five-year-old om San Die go, and ow Al Erikson ta ner ke Purina Incred first place at the 2009 ible Dog Ch in Gray Sum allenge Fina mit, Missour ls i.

Paul West’s Australia n Shepherd Tucker per forms an aerial flip to take third Place in the 2008 Purina Incredibl e Dog Challenge Weste rn Regionals held in Au stin, Texas.

Pitbull Roo Yori and ch Wallace snat e in second plac a rin Pu 09 the 20 g Incredible Do ral nt Challenge Ce in ld he s al on gi Re as.

Wichita, Kans

50 moderndog su mmer 2010

Even smalle r dogs can excel at disc do Gary Duke an ggin’. d show their st Bayer uf 2009 Purina f in the In Dog Challeng credible e Gray Summit, Finals in Missouri.

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In Therapy Volunteers and their therapy dogs do some seriously good work, brightening the days of those desperately in need of a little good cheer.

By Corey Van’t Haaff Photographed by Angie Wojciechowska

52 moderndog su mmer 2010

T

hey say every dog has its day. For Nemo, that “Horrendously shy,” says Dockerill. “When I brought him day came in 2007. home, he was so shy, I had to be careful what to do with Nemo is a Miniature Poodle, as tall as one my hands. He ran from other dogs and when we went to could possibly be and still be called a Miniature. puppy school, he hid under a chair.”

He’s four years old now, and a beautiful boy with fur not Eventually, she says, Nemo figured everything out and quite apricot-coloured and not quite cinnamon-coloured. became a wonderful companion.

He was out for a walk on that fateful day, alongside his After the meeting with John and Stacey, Dockerill did owner, Betty Dockerill, through the Mount Pleasant area some research and found BC Pets and Friends, one of many of Vancouver, Canada, when they stopped to chat with non-profit organizations in North America that provide and “Stacey.” They had seen Stacey before, accompanying a promote the healing comfort and companionship of animals. young man from a local group home for the mentally and The group arranges free pet visitation on an individual or physically challenged. group basis to care facilities and residences, and screens and Stacey mentioned that the young man, “John,” loved anitrains dogs (and cats) and their people to interact with the mals and that the group home had a cat. Unfortunately, one disabled, elderly, chronically ill, and mentally ill. time, in his eagerness to touch the cat, John grabbed its leg Dockerill and Nemo now visit at Vancouver’s Mount Saint tightly and wouldn’t or couldn’t let go. The cat never visited Joseph Hospital. Once a week, Dockerill gives Nemo a good him again. brush or a bath, dons two sets of photo IDs Stacey had previously told Dockerill she (one with her picture, one with Nemo’s), By the time they shouldn’t let John pat Nemo, for fear that then packs Nemo into the car and drives to reach the hospital parking lot, he something similar might happen, but on this the hospital. Nemo knows exactly where is standing up in particular day, she said maybe they should they are going; by the time they reach the the car, proudly try it and see what happened. hospital parking lot, he is standing up in wearing his visitation the car, proudly wearing his visitation banDockerill picked up little Nemo and held bandana, tail, ears, dana, tail, ears, and head up high. him for John to pat. Immediately, John and head up high. grabbed Nemo’s leg tightly and did not let “It’s that Poodle prance. I know he’s go. happy,” she says.

“His hand went to the leg and gripped one of Nemo’s Nemo loves the attention. He and Dockerill typically visit legs,” Dockerill says. “Nemo completely relaxed. He intuithree different wards: the medical ward, extended care, tively knew. He licked [John’s] hand and the boy laughed and geriatric psychiatry. The regulars call Nemo by name. and smiled. This dog gets it.”

Sometimes, he walks over for a quick pat and other times he It wasn’t initially clear that pet therapy and visitation is right up on Dockerill’s lap so he can lean into a resident would be in Dockerill and Nemo’s future. Dockerill, an for a longer hello. Frequently, one of Nemo’s special friends RN, had never owned a dog. As she prepared to retire, she has treats waiting. found and fell in love with the Poodle pup and arranged “[This lady] spends time during the week breaking up to bring him home right after she dog biscuits into very small pieces so she can feed Nemo,” stopped working. She had seen a pet says Dockerill. Plus, there’s a small flask of water to pour (facing page) BC Pets and Friends therapy visitation segment on a TV show and into his little makeshift drinking cup. dog Cooper, an affable thought she might like to do that, but It’s clear to see the benefits of visitation for Nemo; free Black Lab, gets some love from seniors at she wasn’t sure she would be able to. cookies and lots of attention. But there is so much more in it Southview Terrace, a Nemo was painfully shy. for the residents. retirement community. moderndogmagazine.com

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“I think maybe we change someone’s day forever. In five minutes, we make a difference.”

(top) Seniors gather to visit with BC Pets and Friends therapy dog Cooper, a Black Lab. (above) New therapy dog Icky, a Labradoodle puppy, shares a moment with a senior residing at Southview Terrace.

54 moderndog su mmer 2010

“In all my years of nursing,” says Dockerill, “I never had time to sit and talk to people. Sometimes, [the person’s] hand just rests on the dog. People smile when they see Nemo.

“I think maybe we change someone’s day forever. In five minutes, we make a difference. That’s what’s in it for me,” she says.

To become approved for visitation, a dog is tested and assessed first. If the dog passes, the owner then attends an orientation session and visits the facility once without his or her dog for a tour and information session.

Leslie Bruce has been visiting with the program for nine years.

Her gorgeous English Setter-cross, Polo—the friendliest dog in the universe, she says—was a faithful visitor before becoming the “demo dog” during orientation.

“He’d been to so many presentations. He loved people. He made eye contact, he’d go to them—run to someone in a wheelchair. If he saw a cane, he would run towards them,” she says.

“We screen any size dog,” Bruce explains. “We check for temperament and suitability. We pinch their ear to see their reaction and forgiveness. We ruffle their head and put a hand in our mouth, see if they jump up, and if they are neat and clean.”

Dogs need to be comfortable around wheelchairs, canes, walkers, and all the different smells and sounds in a facility. They need to be under control of their owners at all times. Especially, Bruce looks for dogs that are interested in people.

“It’s really important that the dog wants to sit beside someone and let them pat them.”

The dogs that make it into the program have the potential to connect with people, sometimes releasing memories or emotions that are hidden away.

Once, Bruce was screening a Dalmatian at a facility and residents were walking by and peeking in. A father and daughter wandered by, there to visit their wife and mother, “Beth,” who was a resident. They went to get Beth but by the time she came down, the Dalmatian was gone.

“But then a lady came in with a little Pug. We took the Pug to Beth and she started to talk to it. She hadn’t spoken in months,” says Bruce. “She started to cry and kept saying ‘oh what a nice dog.’ It was like a total conversation with this little animal. It was just unbelievable. This is why I volunteer.”

She says many people who visit facilities with their dogs are the only visitors some residents ever get. Beyond the obvious attraction of petting a friendly, loving dog, there are other reasons for the bonds that form.

“It’s not a threat with a dog,” says Bruce. “It’s not there to take you for X-rays or give you a bad message. They forget about things that bother them.”

One resident that Polo would visit regularly was a 90-year-old

bachelor who would get down on his knees to say hi to the dog.

“He carried a picture of Polo in his walker; a big picture so he could see it all the time.”

After Polo passed away in May, 2009, BC Pets and Friends honoured his work by placing his picture on one of their note cards.

Bruce’s new pup is a seven-week-old Labradoodle named Icky, who just might follow in Polo’s footsteps when he’s older.

Dockerill and Nemo have also shared many memorable visitation moments, but the one that will stay with Dockerill forever is a day that they entered the locked geriatric psychiatric ward and found the place chaotic. One woman, “Alice,” was obviously out of control. A staff person was assigned to her, but Alice was acting aggressively.

“It wasn’t the time or the place for a dog,” Dockerill remembers thinking.

But Nemo wasn’t about to go anywhere. “[Alice] caught sight of him. I picked up Nemo and walked toward her. She was immersed in Nemo. She asked, if she sat down, would Nemo sit in her lap?”

It was the first time Alice had been calm in 24 hours, Dockerill learned.

“Nemo melted his body into hers. She patted him, not gently, but he didn’t care.

If she started to get excited, he would lick her hand and she would come back to him.”

After half an hour of this one-on-one dog/patient time, Nemo jumped off her lap and looked at Dockerill as if to say, time to go home.

Though they never saw Alice again, Dockerill cherishes the memory of how Nemo was able to reach her when no human could.

“It was literally magic,” says Dockerill, “to watch how calm she became, to watch him mold his body to hers and how he knew what to do. I’ll never forget that day. I cried all the way home.”n

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Saints photographed by tanya king

S.A.I.N.T.S, or Senior Animals in Need Today Society, is a hospice of sorts, a sanctuary run by Carol Hine in her home on her three-acre property in Mission, BC. Opening her doors to senior and special-needs animals of all shapes, sizes, and species, Hine’s menagerie includes goats, cows, pigs, horses, chickens, cats, and many dogs. All the animals in Hine’s care are clearly cherished, even those blemished and crotchety from old age, and are shown the upmost love and attention, in some cases the first in a lifetime bereft of any kind word or gentle touch. Moved to help animals discarded after a lifetime of service, Hine offers respite to the elderly and infirm and her time, along with that of her volunteers, is accordingly spent nurturing, medicating, feeding, and yes, cleaning up after her doting posse of pets. The dogs, all treated like family members, are free to roam the house and property or take a snooze on Hine’s bed. Even those who clearly have little time left and who will be dispatched to the other side when their pain outweighs their joy in the every day, still boogie around, begging treats. And then there are seniors like Al (page 59), who, at an advanced 16 years of age, still roams the property, checking in on the cows and romping with his ball down past the barn.

It’s clear these dogs have been given a little slice of heaven here on earth; somewhere to live out their last days with dignity, respect, and a surfeit of love. Though the name of the nonprofit was chosen to refer to the animals in its care, we suspect that the real saint here is Hine herself. *SAINTS is a non-profit organization and vet bills alone top $60,000 annually. If you’d like to make a donation in support of their amazing work, please visit saintsrescue.ca.

Chance, also fondly known as the “Mongolian monster,” is an 8-year-old paraplegic Pekingese.

Before coming to SAINTS, Chance belonged to an elderly couple. He spent his last years with them living in the basement after a small grandchild accidently damaged his spine.

He is currently being fitted for a wheelchair.

(Facing page) Kodi is a 14-year-old Australian Shepherd/Cattle Dog cross (aka “that bloody crazy cattle dog!”) currently in palliative care from advanced mass cell cancer of the hip. He was surrendered by another rescue who was unable to deal with his “aggression” issues which were really just over-developed herding instincts.

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Larry “the little old man” is a cream-coloured Chihauhua/ Terrier cross of about 16 years rescued from a high-kill shelter in California. Fine web scarring all over his body coupled with significant hair loss led the vets to feel his past likely involved a fire. Three tumours were removed upon arrival—thankfully all of them were noncancerous— and several abscessed and rotten teeth were extracted.

Al is a 16-year-old Yellow Lab/ Pitbull cross. Initially surrendered due to family break up, Al had been in three previous homes before coming to SAINTS. He likes to climb fences and hang out in the barnyards and fields. He is a playaholic!

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Peluchi is a 10-year-old mop-head mutt originally surrendered because his family was moving. He has a grade 5 heart murmur and is best friends with Joey, the Chihuahua/Boston Terrier who was surrendered with him.

The indomitable Daphne came to SAINTS temporarily paraplegic.

Though still fully incontinent, she has regained use of her back legs and goes racing through the acreage, barking all the while, clearly living it up. *Except for those at the very end of their lives and some permanent residents, the dogs at SAINTS are all up for adoption.

And adoption makes room for Carol to take in another hardluck case. Additionally, donations are always appreciated. saintsrescue.ca

ors Hine with seni ol ar C ’ s t in a S Maude & Tyra.

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body &soul Cool It!

8 Ways to Beat the Heat 1 Freeze blueberries and sliced-up

bananas for a cool, low-fat dog treat.

2 (Vanilla) ice ice baby. Fill the Kool

Collar with ice. The melting action simulates sweat to keep your canine cool on hot days (koolcollarstore.com).

3 Travelling? Use zap straps to fasten a battery powered hand fan to your dog’s kennel on the outside, facing in.

4 Fill a kiddy pool with a few inches of fresh, cool water for your dog to romp, lounge in, or lap up.

5

Try the thermo-regulating Cooling Bed III from Hounds Around Town, perfect for dogs really bothered by the heat (houndsaroundtown.com).

6 If your dog spends time in your yard, make sure there are shady spots provided by trees, shrubbery, or an awning so that she can escape the rays.

7 Mist away. Fill a spray bottle with fresh, cool water and mist your dog’s fur at regular intervals to cool down his inner temp. Spray yourself while you’re at it.

8 Fill a Kong or other stuffable toy with food

and freeze for a chilly summer treat that will keep your dog busy.

Portly Pooch?

Diet Tip: Replace your dog’s regular treats with baby carrots.

62 moderndog su mmer 2010

Killer Palm Risk to Dogs The Sago Palm is one of the most popular plants in the world and, unfortunately, also one of the deadliest, both to pets and humans.

Sold without much of a warning to consumers, the plant has a pleasant, woody taste that dogs find irresistible, but its effects when ingested are quick, painful, and, more often than not, deadly. The plant’s toxins attack the gastrointestinal tract and ingestion usually results in complete liver failure. Most dogs do not recover. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is working to educate pet owners and veterinarians about the top five deadliest toxic plants and their effects (the list also includes lily, azalea, oleander, and castor bean).

A Sound Idea Give the ultimutt in canine-approved home entertainment a listen.

The revolutionary My Pet Speaker is the world’s first sound system attuned to your dog’s delicate sense of hearing. Co-created by author and composer Janet Marlow, My Pet Speaker converts your music library into dog-friendly tunes by removing particularly low or high frequencies that

Convert your music library into dog friendly tunes.

can be harmful to dogs’ sensitive eardrums, and disburses the more mellow sounds in a 360-degree radius, which is how animals hear in nature. For on-the-go relaxation, they also

offer an iPhone App with a collection of pet-friendly music to soothe stressed pets. Now that’s something we’re sure your dog will be happy to sound off on. petacoustics.com

body &soul Give your dog a cookie, help a shelter dog in need

It’s A Dog’s Life (in Colour) Before the domestication of dogs, their ability to see in the dark was far more important than their ability to differenti-

The Human’s View

U

The Dog’s View

ate colour, so their sight evolved differently than that of human beings.

Instead of the full spectrum, a dog sees only yellows, blues, and greys. The only way this may affect your dog is if you buy him a red or green toy, because he sees them as yellows and whites, which make them incredibly difficult to find in a field of green grass, which also seems white to a dog! Next time your dog dashes right past your green tennis ball, it’s not because your dog is blind—just colour blind!

I Say, Mind Your Manners Maybe it isn’t coincidental that Pavlov first conceived of the conditioned reflex by observing the effect of food-based positive reinforcement techniques on dogs. Indeed, dogs are quick learners, especially where food is concerned. Following on Pavlov’s heels is Manners Minder, a radio-controlled positive behaviour reinforcement device. Instantly reward positive behaviours from a distance (and this is the key here) with the click of a button, helping your dog learn quickly and effectively without distractions.

This device will help your dog with basic obedience, crate training, separation anxiety, and more, proving especially useful for those wishing to distract their dog from an undesirable behaviour (like, say, barking like crazy when the doorbell rings) by having him quickly (and quietly!) trot over to the Manners Minder when you remotely cue the device to dispense a treat. Learning just got so much more rewarding.

64 moderndog su mmer 2010

An estimated 4 million dogs are needlessly euthanized every year in the US and Canada simply because of a lack of room and food, a statistic so horrifying that it’s difficult to even comprehend. Rather than be dismayed into inaction, baked-cookie company Darford was inspired to make a difference, introducing their new line of dog food with the launch of their Plus One Movement, aimed at helping dogs in need. Buy any prepared Darford dog treats or meals and inside find an individually wrapped meal to donate, either to a shelter or dog of your choice, or in the donation hamper at the place of purchase. Find more information on this innovative program at ilovealldogs.org.

Over 34 percent of people in the United States are considered obese, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Most estimates say up to 40 percent of household pets are overweight.

Cool Gadget: Rabbit Air Bid allergies adieu. RabbitAir’s BioGS HEPA air purifiers filter out pet dander, dust, pollen, germs, even stink. Ultra-quiet, they come equipped with highefficiency, long-lifespan filters that remove 99.97 percent of the allergens and pollutants that can cause irritation and harm your respiratory system. Using Nano-Silver ions to kill bacteria and deodorize air, it will clean out any doggie smell as well as anything else you’d be likely to turn your nose up at.

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body &soul The Doctor’s In Dr. Betsy Brevitz tackles common veterinary vexations

Ticked Off! If your dog has just two or three ticks and you want to pull them off, here’s the best way to do it.

You’ll need a pair of disposable vinyl or latex gloves (many supermarkets carry these, as well as drugstores), cotton balls, What if there are tick mouth parts stuck in the skin? Normally no hydrogen peroxide, a pair of tweezers or a tick remover, rubbing special treatment is needed. Check the area once a day, and if the alcohol, and a jar with a lid. Pour a half-inch of rubbing alcohol bump should become hot or painful, get considerably larger, or ooze in the jar, and put on the gloves. Using cotton balls, soak the skin blood or fluid, then have your vet take a look. with hydrogen peroxide where the tick is attached. (This doesn’t do anything to the tick but helps kill Looking Out for Lyme some of the bacteria on the skin.)

Q: My dog was bitten by some ticks while I was clearing some Using the tweezers or tick remover, brush out of our yard. How will I know whether she got Lyme gently grasp the tick as close to the disease? dog’s skin as possible, and pull steadiA: If you saw the ticks yourself, you can check the chart above to ly until the tick comes off. Do your see whether they were the size of deer ticks—the ones that carry best not to squeeze the tick’s body lime disease—or whether they were the larger dog ticks, which while you’re pulling, because you don’t carry Lyme but can transmit other diseases. want to avoid squishing tick fluids Also, if you managed to get the ticks off soon after they bit your into the dog’s skin. Put the tick in the dog, she’s in good shape: ticks need to be attached and feeding for jar with the alcohol and cap it. Wipe at least 24 hours in order to transmit Lyme. with a little more hydrogen peroxide If you’re not sure what kind of ticks they were or how long they to clean it. were on your dog, don’t panic. Keep a close eye on her energy Go over your dog carefully to make level, appetite, and behaviour for the next three weeks or so, and sure you haven’t missed any ticks, and don’t forget to check the whisk her to the vet if she ADR (ain’t doin’ right). Common signs of head and face. Even if you think you’ve gotten Lyme disease include loss of energy, loss of appeall the ticks, it’s not a bad idea to put a Preventic tite, fever, limping, or swollen joints. The disease Ticks need to be collar or Frontline on your dog afterward, just in attached and feed- can be confirmed with a blood test, and because it’s case. Throw away the sealed tick jar when you’re ing for at least 24 caused by bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi), it can be finished. hours in order to treated with antibiotics.

A bump or welt may appear on the dog’s skin Lyme disease in dogs can often be cured if transmit Lyme. after you pull off the tick. People often worry that detected and treated early. Many vets run a 4Dx this means the tick’s head is stuck in the skin, but blood test annually to check dogs for exposure to more often the bump is inflammation, like a mosquito bite. If the heartworms, Borrelia, and two other bacteria transmitted by tick bumps seem to bother your dog, you can put cool compresses on bites, Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma. A 4Dx test may be negative if them for five minutes at a time a couple of times a day until they a dog was bitten by an infected tick recently and hasn’t yet develsubside. Don’t apply any creams or ointments to bumps that your oped antibodies against those organisms, so if your dog is limping dog can lick, because lick them she will, which prevents the ointand has a fever, your vet is likely to put her on an antibiotic regardment from doing any good and may give her an upset stomach. less of the test result.

The Doctor

66 moderndog su mmer 2010

American Dog Tick

Adult: Pre-feeding

Adult: Engorged

Nymph: Pre-feeding

Nymph: Engorged

Deer Tick

Adult: Pre-feeding

Nymph: Pre-feeding

Adult: Engorged

Which Tick is Which?

Not all kinds of ticks carry Lyme disease. If you live in an area where Lyme disease is common, it’s good to know what deer ticks—the ones that carry Lyme disease—look like. But be aware that although all ticks don’t carry Lyme disease, they can transmit other illnesses, such as anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis.

One severe potential complication of Lyme disease is kidney damage leading to protein loss in the urine.

This is most often seen in dogs who were not treated or diagnosed within the first few months of infection.

When a dog tests positive for exposure to Lyme, a vet will often check the urine protein. Medications can help improve the blood flow to the kidneys and slow the protein loss, but sometimes the kidney damage progresses to kidney failure and can be fatal.

If your dog gets ticks more then once in a blue moon, you’d be smart to use an anti-tick collar product—such as a spot-on, spray or collar—to protect her against the diseases that ticks carry. In areas where Lyme disease is a concern, make sure the product is labeled as effective against deer ticks and not just dog ticks. Ask your vet which times of year ticks are most active in your part of the country, and use tick prevention during those months. A vaccine against Lyme disease is available and may be a good idea for dogs that frequently get ticks. n Excerpted from Hound Health Handbook Copyright © 2004 by Urbanhound, LLC Used by permission of Workman Publishing Co., Inc. New York All Rights Reserved. Available wherever books are sold.

Nymph: Engorged

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body &soul Super Cookies

The low-down on functional treats

By Laura Scott and Elizabeth Pask

I

s your Fido a cookie monster? Most tional treats,” which have added ingredogs love getting treats and, for some, dients to provide health benefits, such their day is not complete without their as improved skin and coat, better joint bedtime biscuit. While it is not a good health, a calmer dog, or fresher doggie idea to feed your dog more than 10 perbreath. Since you’re going to be feeding cent of his caloric intake in cookies, makextra treats, you probably want them to be ing treats part of your as healthy and beneficial as dog’s regular routine is possible. So are these funcSince you’re fine. In fact, cookie time feeding extra treats, tional treats actually better can be the best time of you probably want than a regular biscuit? day for your dog—next them to be as healthy Skin and Coat Cookies to breakfast and dinner, and beneficial as Skin and coat condition is of course. possible.

Take a walk down the a common concern among treat aisle in your local dog owners. Keeping our pet store and you’ll see a huge assortment dogs’ coats shiny and healthy is an imporof cookies. There’s everything from the tant factor in how we choose our dogs’ doggie equivalent of junk food to “funcfood, but what about the cookies?

68 moderndog su mmer 2010

Dogs require both omega-6 and omega3 fatty acids in their diet in order to maintain proper skin and coat health. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in meat products, so most dogs don’t require omega-6 supplements. Omega-3 fats are found in plant oils and fish oil such as salmon, flax, canola, and soybean oil. The recommended dose of omega-3 fat is 175 mg/kg body weight.

On average, most of the cookies we examined did not list the amount of omega-3 fat in the cookie. Some package labels did provide the content of omega-3 fats. This content ranged from 0.3 percent to 2 percent omega-3 fats. This converts to 300 mg to 2000 mg of omega-3 for every 100 g of cookie. It would be difficult to feed the amount of omega-3 required for your dog using a product with the lower level of omega-3, however the products with levels of around 2 percent may provide adequate supplementation.

One thing to remember about omega-3 cookies is that they may be high in fat, so keep cookie consumption to a level appropriate for your dog. Don’t exceed 1/2 to 1/4 of a large (5 - 10 g approximately) cookie per day for dogs weighing less than 25 kg. For dogs over 25 kg, limit cookie consumption to approximately two cookies per day.

Joint Cookies As our dogs age, it is common for them to have some arthritis in their joints. In

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the past several years, the evidence supporting the use of glucosamine to improve joint health has been mounting. Most joint supplements contain glucosamine HCL (note: glucosamine sulfate is less digestible), MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), and chondroiton. The recommended dose will depend on your dog, but a good estimate is 1000-1500 mg/day glucosamine HCL, 1000 mg/day for MSM, and 800-1200 mg/day chondroiton for dogs 25-50 kg. For dogs between 10 and 25 kg, give half the doses mentioned above and, for dogs less than 10 kg, quarter the doses.

Most of the joint health cookies that we surveyed had only 100-300 mg of glucosamine per cookie and the recommended serving was one cookie per day.

In this case, this is not a sufficient dose of glucosamine to provide a noticeable health benefit. Other joint health cookies did not contain any glucosamine, MSM, or chondroiton and may not provide any improvement to joint health. These cookies do not necessarily cause harm, they just may not be as beneficial as they could be if they had more active ingredients in them.

Calming Cookies Dogs can experience stress for a variety of reasons. Moving to a new home, thunder storms, or car rides can all cause stress for our canine companions.

Calming supplements often contain herbal sedatives such as valerian or chamomile. These supplements are sedatives, so it is important to limit how much you give your dog. The dose of valerian is 2 mg/kg body weight and for chamomile, it is 4 mg/ kg body weight. Other supplements contain L-theanine, which is one of the active components of tea and thought to be a calming agent. The dose for theanine is 1 mg/kg body weight.

Unfortunately, the cookies that we looked at didn’t list the amount of active ingredients in the product, so the cookies may or may not include an effective level.

Dental Cookies Good oral hygiene is important to everyone, especially if your dog likes to wake you up with good morning kisses. There are a num-

70 moderndog su mmer 2010

ber of cookies that claim to improve your dog’s breath. These cookies may contain ingredients that have a freshening effect, such as eucalyptus oil and parsley, or they may have a special shape or texture to help remove plaque and tartar, which are the common causes of bad breath.

Cookies that contain ingredients to freshen breath may have a temporary effect but not likely a lasting result, and while some scientific evidence suggests that a specially designed cookie or kibble shape may help reduce plaque and tartar by manually scrubbing the teeth as the dog chews, the best results were seen with a dental chew rather than with cookies.

It’s also important to remember that a change in your dog’s breath can be an indi-

Below are a couple of suggestions for each type of functional treat that meet our requirements. There are lots of different treats available, so take a moment to read the label before you make a purchase to see if it’s the right treat for your dog.

Even if it doesn’t contain enough of an active ingredient to actually have an effect, it may still be a tasty treat that your pooch is happy to try.

Skin and Coat • Mark and Chappell Skin and Coat Dog Treats • Nutri-Dog All Natural Hip & Joint Chews

Joints • Ark Naturals Sea Mobility Jerky • Zuke’s Hip Action Beef Formula

Calming • Pet Naturals Treats Calming Chews • Dr. Foster’s and Smith Ultra-Calm Bites

Breath Fresheners • Nature’s Recipe Healthy Skin & Coat Lamb Meal & Rice Treats • Nutro Natural Choice Tartar Control

cator of disease, so covering it up with breath fresheners may hide something that should be taken seriously.

To cookie or not to cookie?

While many “super cookies” may not contain significant amounts of the “super” ingredient, they will still be much enjoyed by Fido and won’t do him any harm, as long as you don’t allow him to overindulge on the basis that these cookies are “good for him.”

If your dog needs dietary supplements and you choose carefully, functional treats can form a healthy part of his daily food plan. n

*

Free Stuff

Dog Days of Summer

Five lucky readers will win a matching “Wish You Were Here” beach towel and flip-flop set from Teddy the Dog! For contest details, flip to page 135.

For more info, go to teddythedog.com.

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10

10.

Leona holds two-year-old little Cindy Lou. Her owner surrendered her at the Los Angeles East Valley shelter February 1, 2010 after Cindy Lou was hit by a car and her family was unable to afford her vet care. Lange Foundation rescued her from the shelter and her internal injuries have mended nicely.

A Voice for Animals Songstress Leona Lewis on animals, Avatar, and advocacy.

By Karin Sinkevicius Photographed by Kharen Hill Hair Rick Henry; makeup Lisa Riley; styling Jen MacFarlane

I

t’s obvious right from the lilting Hello, this is Leona at the other end of the phone line that the only thing diva-like about Leona Lewis is her powerhouse singing voice. The British pop star got her start just four years ago on The X Factor, the UK counterpart to American Idol, when she was famously one of the few to stun the critical Simon Cowell into silence. Since then, she has successfully hopped the pond with her music, being the first British solo artist to top the US Billboard 200 with a debut album.

I could rattle off a whole list of Lewis’ fabulous feats: she performed at the closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics, she was hand-picked to sing the theme song for James Cameron’s latest golden project, Avatar; but best of all, she’s using her amazing voice to stand up for those who don’t have one. Originally a fan of Lewis’ music, a fact I shamelessly admit to her over the course of our conversation, I soon become a fan of the woman herself as I listen to her discuss her passion for animals.

Lewis’ alignment with the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) started out as support in the form of monthly donations, signing petitions, and spreading the word to friends and family. But it was “when everything happened” in her career that she really got involved, doing a campaign

called “Animals Matter To Me” that asks for public support for WSPA’s mission, one Lewis believes in very much.

“Basically WSPA’s mission is to have a universal declaration for the protection of animals,” Lewis says, “which is kind of like a human rights act, only for animals, so that they can enforce more animal protection laws. I just really admire the way they go about things, changing laws and petitioning.”

WSPA’s Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare doesn’t just cover companion animals, but wildlife and farm animals as well, another thing Lewis can relate to.

“Ever since I was little, really, I’ve always had an affinity for animals. I’ve always wanted to be around them. My rabbit’s jumping on me as we speak; her name is Melrose, she’s really sweet.

I’ve always had animals around me, I’ve always felt very comfortable with animals and I’ve just always loved them. I’m sure I was an animal in a previous life!”

When pressed a little as to what kind of animal she might’ve been, Lewis laughs softly. “I definitely think I was a horse in a past life, because I love horses and I just feel a very deep connection with them.”

It was a Yorkshire Terrier named Suzie, however, that was Lewis’ companion for seventeen years before passing away, and leaving a dog-sized hole in Lewis’ life. “[Suzie’s death] was very upsetting to the whole family.

I’m sure I was an animal in a previous life.

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Literally, I don’t remember life without my dog.” There’s still the family dog, Misty, a rescued Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and she has plans to adopt in the future.

“I would love to [adopt]. Actually, after we did the [Modern Dog] shoot, my friend went to adopt one of the dogs that came to the shoot. Unfortunately, when we got there, she’d been homed the day before, so we were sad but happy at the same time that she got a home. That organization is really helping. I would never buy from a breeder or from a pet store. I’ve talked to a lot of my friends about this. There are so many dogs in shelters.”

Lewis cites the Lange Foundation, a non-profit shelter in Los Angeles where the photo shoot dogs came from, as well as the Battersea in London, as somewhere she would look for her future furry companion.

“I really feel for [animals] and I feel sorry for how poorly they’re treated. They’re not protected. I feel they need to be because they can’t speak for themselves. That’s why I pick animal charities to work with because I feel there are not enough people that are really supporting them.

“WSPA has a lot of different issues that they’re tackling at the moment, but I’m really passionate about horses. There are horses sent to slaughter that are perfectly healthy and I’m very passionate about trying to stop that. I’d love to have a sanctuary for horses, because they’re such big animals; they require a lot of work, a lot of space, so it’s very hard for charities.”

Her devotion to animal welfare is evident not only in her zeal for animal charities, but in her lifestyle choices as well.

“I am a vegetarian. I don’t eat meat or any fish, and I do try to be a vegan at least once a week where I don’t drink milk or eat cheese or eggs. I’ve been a vegetarian since I was twelve.”

Lewis tweeted recently: “Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do” and she applies that principle in her own life.

“You can know about things, but kind of hide it and pretend it’s not really happening. I’m speaking about basically applying it to yourself. and doing things instead of just talking about it, which a lot of people tend to do. I love people that take action. I admire that.”

“Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.”

Strapping Elvis is about 1 year old.

He was a stray in the Antelope Valley, picked up March 4, 2010.

76 moderndog su mmer 2010

Adorable Alley is about 2 years old.

She was a stray from the Los Angeles East Valley shelter, picked up February 4, 2010.

“Paul McCartney is just lovely and Stella is just a cool vegetarian.”

She admires the McCartney family in particular for everything they’ve done in the fight against animal cruelty, from Stella’s animal cruelty-free accessory line to Sir Paul’s new initiative, Meat Free Mondays.

“I really admire that family for all that they’ve done. Paul McCartney is just lovely and Stella is just a cool vegetarian.”

Seeing her beliefs shared by others means making a real difference, as well. Every year on her birthday, Lewis requests that her friends and fans donate to charity instead of giving her presents. This year, J records donated to the SPCALA to remove dogs from “death row” in shelters.

“It’s so amazing. It’s so wonderful getting the message out there; it’s getting through to people. People are supporting it and being made aware of it. If I can make a difference in a tiny, tiny way, that’s great.”

Lewis gets the message out there with her music, as well, where the core theme is always love.

“I feel that having compassion and a love for animals and humans alike helps inspire me for every song. I’ve always wanted to be a singer. I actually studied classical from when I was very young. I wanted to be an opera singer for a very long time. It’s still in my repertoire and it’s helped me so much in my pop singing. Then I got into more modern. I try to keep my mix very eclectic. I’ve just always wanted to do music.”

This mix of classical and pop styles may have helped her to win over the decision makers behind Avatar’s theme song, “I See You.”

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Leona with Cindy Lou (held), Alley (right), Whoopie (behind), a 10-year-old stray, and Cory (left), a former Lange dog adopted a few years ago and one of Lange’s many canine goodwill ambassadors.

“I feel that having compassion and a love for animals and humans alike helps inspire me for every song.”

“I was approached by the writers of [“I See You”]. They asked me to sing the song and see how it sounded. They told me what it was for and I was, ‘Oh wow!’ I’m very into movies and I had heard about this movie a long time before they asked me to be involved. They said, ‘We’ll play it for James [director James Cameron] and see what he thinks.’

“I was very nervous, and like ‘please use it’, because that would be so amazing. He heard it and loved it. I went and met him and he showed me reels from the film. It was so incredible to be involved in such a historic film.”

Lewis’ composed voice reveals excitement, thrilling me into the realization that even celebrities can get a little star-struck. She also admires Alicia Keys as her creative contemporary, and has worked with some of the music industry’s top players.

“I’ve worked with some of the best writers in the world. I worked with Clive Davis who discovered Whitney Houston. It’s quite daunting at first, it’s such an amazing opportunity. I was just so humbled and just so honoured to be working with people like that.”

But her most memorable moment is probably one that is etched into the minds of the billion or so people who watched Lewis perform atop a red double-decker bus, belting out “Whole Lotta Love” with Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page at the closing ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Lewis is currently focused on touring to promote her two albums, Spirit and Echo, while continuing to work closely with WSPA; a visit to one of their bear sanctuaries is in the works. Animal advocacy is not something she is likely to lay aside, no matter her fame or her busy schedule.

“Remember the love the animals bring, and remember that they are vulnerable and they don’t have a voice. We need to help them in any way we can because they’re part of our lives and our history, and we need to be very aware and help protect them any way that we can.” n For more information about the World Society for the Protection of Animals, visit their global site at wspa-international.org, and pledge your support for Animals Matter To Me at animalsmatter.org

*

All the dogs featured in this photo shoot are from the Lange Foundation, a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing pets from animal shelters. Without rescue, many of the animals in L.A. shelters await almost certain euthanasia due to the sheer number of homeless pets. In general, owner-surrendered pets are kept just two to four days and strays kept only three to five days before they are euthanized. It is from these overburdened shelters that the Lange Foundation pulls pets, giving these rescued dogs and cats a new lease on life. They are cared for at the Lange Foundation’s Half Way Home Kennel, where their temperament is assessed and they are given lots of love and attention until a forever home is found for them.

For more information or if you are interested in adopting one of the dogs in this story, go to langefoundation.org.

78 moderndog su mmer 2010

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80 moderndog su mmer 2010

Pack the Adventure Mat right next to the sleeping bags. This portable, ribbed dog bed is a must-have for adventuring dogs. Just fold and roll for a packable bed for dogs on the go. $27, kakadupet.com

If your small pup can’t keep up on hikes, simply strap on FouFou Dog’s Poochy Pouch.

The flat bottom means your dog can sit comfortably, padded straps keep your shoulders comfortable, and it folds up to a travel pack when not in use. $40, foufoudog.com

We’ve all been there, admit it: out in the wilderness, far from home, with our faithful furry friend, and tragedy strikes. We’re caught unprepared and embarrassed, without a beer opener. (What?

Of course we packed the poop bags.) Now, thanks to the ingenuity of the kind folks at bark4beer, you’ll never be caught unprepared again. $20, bark4beer.com

Paul Frank, well-known for his cheeky, adorable monkeys, has finally extended his designs to dogs! This collar and leash comes in perfect colours for summer and is packed with quirky, silly personality. $28/$32, 26barsandaband.com

Great Gear Groovy gear for the great outdoors Ideal for hikes, bikes, and road trips, the durable and stylish

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is made of toxin-free stainless steel and a has a drinking lid designed just for dogs. $20, H2O4K9.com

With rich, warm colours reflecting the Australian Outback, these sturdy collars are perfect for an afternoon at the dog beach. $36, dishlickersdesign.com.au

The ulti-mutt thirst quencher. The WaterDog

Automatic Outdoor Pet Drinking Fountain turns itself on to deliver fresh water whenever your dog comes within three feet, and automatically turns off when he leaves. $79, contech-inc.com

Soak the Cool Vest in water then wrap it around Rover for instant and longlasting cooling through evaporation. Though the vest is wet, its laminated liner keeps your dog dry while he chills out. $50, gramercydistribution.com

Meet your new best friend, the Poo Boss K9 Utility Vest. This dog vest is equipped with a waste bag dispenser and pocket for used ones, so your dog can do the dirty work. It also stores all your personal items and has a reflective stripe for nighttime visibility. $25, pooboss.com

Editor’s Pick Raise pubic awareness while supporting animal rescue (25% of all profits go to Louis Animal Foundation) with a very cool, handcrafted natural rope FOUND leash, intended specifically for adopted animals. The design allows for hand-held, hands-free, or over-the-shoulder use and each is marked with an individually numbered, stamped brass tag.

From $56, foundmyanimal.com

The Write Stuff

Modern Dog Writing Contest Winners

We put out a call out for submissions to our firstever writing contest and the response was tremendous. Thank you to all the entrants for sharing your by turns funny, heartbreaking, and heartwarming tales. We alternately cried and laughed over many of them and spent countless hours determining the winners. In fact, it was so difficult to choose that we will be running three more winning stories in the fall issue, and even more will be published online.

We’re also unveiling a new writing contest, “How I Met My Dog.” Turn to page 115 for details.

1st

PLACE

My Dog Vicky

By Sharon Mercer Illustration by Jess Golden

M

y Vicky died today.

She was the ugliest dog I had ever seen, black and brown brindle, a Pitbull body with a Labrador head, a crooked leg but the clearest, most beautiful brown eyes. I trapped her in a live trap at the local landfill four years ago. The guys who worked there had picked the trap up and placed it under the awning. It was a cold and wet November afternoon.

One of them said, “You ain’t gonna take that dog out of that trap, are ya?” I said I was. The other said, “You’re braver than I am, lady.” I opened the trap, spoke to her softly and slipped the lead over her head. She hobbled on out of the trap and allowed me to pick her up and place her in a crate in the bed of my pick-up. I have rescued a lot of dogs but never one so obviously grateful.

Vicky, named after Victor, the manager of the landfill, had been dumped like refuse by her former owner, just another piece of garbage. I don’t know how long she had lived there—eating trash,

scrounging for food—but it was long enough to have had a litter of pups. It was one of these pups that attracted my attention. My large wooden doghouse had bitten the dust and I had hauled it to the dump.

As I shoved it off the back of the truck into a brush pile several stories high, something yelped in fear. I looked over and saw a small red pup caught under some tree limbs. There were several other puppies, too, mostly black, but they quickly disappeared back into the brush pile. I managed to catch this one. Nearly three months old, she had never been touched by a human hand and she was terrified. I put her in the truck and drove home, with “Lottie” clinging to the dashboard as far away from me as she could get.

That night I began to obsess about the other pups—how long could they survive at the landfill? So I called and got permission to set out the live trap. I didn’t catch any of Lottie’s siblings but that first night, I caught the mama dog, Vicky. By the third day, it was business as usual at the landfill and they had bulldozed the huge brush pile, killing the other puppies.

I took Vicky to a local vet. He said the broken leg couldn’t be fixed; she would always be lame. She was also heartworm positive. Getting her spayed was another matter. She had had so many heat cycles and borne so many puppies, her reproductive organs were like mush and came apart in the vet’s hands during the spay. By that night, she was in shock from internal hemorrhage. I sat on the floor next to her in the kennel at the vet’s office and begged her to live. Poor Vicky had to have another surgery to stop the bleeding and save her life.

By the time she was up and around, she had discovered what it was like to receive a bowl of dog food on a regular basis. Vicky made up for lost time, becoming so roly-poly she looked more like a manatee than a dog, especontinues on page 85

Vicky had been dumped like refuse by her former owner.

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Modern Dog Writing Contest Winners

2nd

PLACE

Lucky Dog

By Charlene Logan Burnett Illustration by Jess Golden

W

e wanted chickens, not another dog. My husband and I already had two—a rough-coated Collie and an Australian Cattle Dog cross. More than enough canines, or at least so we thought. But chickens, we could use. It now cost over $6 for a carton of pasture-raised, bug-eating chickens’ eggs, so it made economical sense to get us some layers, set them up in a nice coop by the barn, and harvest our own eggs. But what happened when we went to Phoenix Ranch, which runs The Chicken Project, an educational program that introduces suburban kids to the wonders of poultry, was that we spotted Lucky, a black and white Chihuahua-type dog, lurking in the shadows.

Phoenix Ranch also operates an animal rescue program and, on this particular rainy day, the resident and rescue mutts helped us herd chickens around the muddy barnyard for a good half hour. Out of the fifty or so hens flapping about, dodging behind the coop and under the wheels of our car, or fleeing to distant pastures, we finally caught three. While the other dogs enjoyed the activity, Lucky kept her distance. She sat, spine curled, face turned away, her tiny body shivering.

Bob, my husband, kept looking over at her. “I think she’s speaking to me.

“She isn’t even looking at you,” I said.

“She’s saying, I want to go home with you.”

We’d been through this before. Our Cattle Dog, Maggie, had also once spoken to Bob. We were walking past a pet store during an SPCA adoption event on our way to pick up a movie at Blockbuster, and supposedly, Maggie tracked Bob, watching him through the plate-glass window as we scanned the new DVD releases.

“She’s chosen me,” Bob had said.

So, we filled out the adoption papers and a week later, Maggie had made herself at home, treeing the 13-year-old cat, barking at anything that moved within a one-mile radius, and tearing the woven-wood shades off the window frame.

I am not oblivious to the charms of a homeless dog. I volunteer as a Collie rescue foster caregiver. My last foster dog, a 10-yearold sweetheart, lived with us for six months, waiting to find a permanent home. I would have adopted her in a heartbeat if we could have afforded to take on the extra expense of caring for an elderly dog.

I would, if I could, adopt a zillion dogs. It breaks my heart to imagine that, on average, five out of every ten dogs in an animal shelter will be euthanized because no one wants them or has the means to care for them. And I would, if I could, wrap my arms around each and every one of them and hold them and let them know everything will be okay.

But it’s not going to be okay. Not while animals are still considered disposable property, whether the excuse is that they bark too much, pee on the carpet, or need an expensive operation or medicine. I did not want to be part of the problem, taking in an animal we couldn’t sustain. I’d lost my job and there was talk of cutbacks in Bob’s office. We have dark moments when we believe we might have to rely on the vegetables from our garden, the eggs from our chickens, and the milk from our Norwegian Dwarf goats to survive. An unlikely scenario, but one we worry about as we approach our mid-fifties and wonder how to go about switching careers. So reason prevailed that day, and we went home without Lucky.

But Bob was haunted by her. He’d wake in the middle of the night.

“She’s waiting for me,” he said. “She’s cold, shivering, alone.”

Although I knew it was inevitable that Lucky would eventually arrive, I told Bob, “Let’s wait. Let’s be sure.”

And when we were, a few weeks later, we drove to Phoenix Ranch to adopt her. It immediately became apparent that Bob’s psychic connection to Lucky was more heartfelt than actual.

Lucky was petrified of us. She wouldn’t look us in the eye. When Bob picked her up, she growled and struck at him in terror. Lucky would need lots of love and time.

She would also need to find her place among our other two dogs. Maggie was so jealous that, on the first day, she snarled and ripped Lucky’s red knit sweater off. But as the weeks passed, Lucky and Maggie became best friends. Lucky now licks the inside of our Collie’s mouth and cleans his teeth as he moans in delight. Bob and Lucky sleep together, her small body curled in the crook of his arm. Yes, harmony is achieved. And, we figure, if worse comes to worst financially, we can all share the chickens’ eggs. n

“She’s waiting for me,” he said. “She’s cold, shivering, alone.”

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3rd

Modern Dog Writing Contest Winners

PLACE

What I Learned From Buddy

By Joanne Clark

Illustration by Jess Golden

H

e was a longhaired, black-and-tan Dachshund, running down the middle of Marysville Highway. I took him in and tried for weeks to find his owner to no avail.

I let “Buddy” know that there were only two rules in the house.

The first rule was, be nice to the cats. Moo, Annie, Cheekie, Dusty, and Lambie Pie were there first. He had no problem with that rule.

The second rule was, no sleeping on my bed. The first morning, I woke up and found myself staring at this sweet little face on the pillow next to me, and he was staring back. I laughed, and the second rule went out the window. Little did I know that long ago morning what an amazing journey it would be with Buddy, and that one day he would save my life, as I had saved his.

Life was never dull with Buddy.

We often walked in the old cemetery in North San Juan. One morning, he ran up the hill and disappeared.

I found him licking the face of a local who was sleeping off a night’s binge on a concrete bench. Coming out of his groggy state, he said, “That’s the best wake-up call I’ve ever had.” Whenever we saw “Joe” after that, either leaning against the old brick wall of The Brass Rail or Toki’s Cafe, he would wag his finger at Buddy and laugh.

Another day, Buddy headed into the bushes near an old abandoned miner’s shack. He came out with a kitten held softly in his

Another five minutes and all would have been lost.

84 moderndog su mmer 2010

mouth. I looked for more, but the feral mother had either moved the others or abandoned this one. Buddy forgot about his morning walk and quickly headed for home with the kitten quietly limp in his mouth. When inside, he gently dropped it in my hands with a pleading look that said, “Please, can we keep it?” Just what I need, I thought, another cat! Lottie grew up to be Lotta Lottie, but still acted like a kitten around Buddy. Whenever Buddy and I would roughhouse and play, Lottie would always plop herself down in the middle of the fray and purr. Buddy had that effect on everyone.

When I left on a trip, I took Buddy to a friend’s house in Challenge, which was about 30 miles from where I lived. The next day I had a call from my next-door neighbour, saying Buddy was there. He was thirsty, tired, and happy to be home. I was stunned.

In one day, that Dachshund ran from Challenge along Oregon Hill Road, Marysville Highway over Bullards Bar Dam to Moonshine Road, then Highway 49 as it crosses the middle fork of the Yuba River, up out of the canyon on a winding two-lane road and a few miles into North San Juan. They say home is where the heart is, and Buddy sure knew where home was.

There was a special connection between Buddy and me right from the beginning that grew deeper over the years. I swear he could read my mind. On January 3, 2001, I woke up early with a headache, stretched out on the couch and fell asleep again.

Around 8 a.m., Buddy barked once in my face. It was an alarm bark, one I had never heard before. He was running down the hall to the master bedroom, barking an alarm bark again. I saw the smoke then, and called 911.

The fire captain told me later that there was also a high level of carbon monoxide coming from a faulty furnace, which probably caused my headache. Buddy saved us; another five minutes and all would have been lost. Buddy was a hero and got his picture in the local paper. My neighbors and friends started calling him Buddy, The Wonder Dog. So, this is what I learned from Buddy: Be a hero. The world needs more heroes.

Be present for everyone.

Be joyful. Be loving.

Be kind to everyone, especially dogs.

Run to be with friends.

Crumbs are OK. Sometimes that’s all people can give.

Smile, missing teeth and all.

Beg if you have to.

Be loyal.

Stretch before walks and take lots of them.

Take naps.

Spit out the dry cat food if you get caught. It goes like BBs through your missing teeth and makes everyone laugh.

Don’t bark at strangers. Don’t bark at friends either.

Make the most of the time you’ve got.

Get hugged a lot. Give kisses if they’ll let you.

What did I learn from Buddy? “LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED.” n

*

Free Stuff

Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun

20 lucky dogs will win a Double Water Bottle Cruncher from Fat Cat. Just stuff it with empty water bottles for double the durable, crinkly, chewing fun. For contest details, flip to page 135. For more details, go to fatcatinc.com.

Poop Patrol

Get your scoop on with the Pawsby PooPatroller, the dog walker’s clean and green concealed pooper scooper! Three lucky winners will be able to sneakily scoop poop without sacrificing their dignity. Comes with 100 biodegradable dog waste bags. Get all the contest details on page 135; for more info, go to pawsby.com

continued from page 82

cially with her waddling, lame-duck walk.

She was always trusting despite the rotten hand of cards she had been dealt in the game of life. She would run to meet me whenever I went out to the kennel.

The little red pup, Lottie, had grown into a 90-pound Pitbull/Rottweiler mix.

Lottie and her mom were tight. They didn’t care much for the other dogs. But Vicky’s only real flaw was an absolute terror of thunder, fireworks, and gunshot, gunshot being the method used by the landfill to eliminate the stray dog population. For this reason, I forgave her when she chewed a hole into the side of the garage, thereby making her own “doggie door;” she was that desperate whenever there was thunder or fireworks.

Yesterday, Vicky didn’t come out of the doghouse while I was feeding, unusual for her. This morning she wasn’t sitting up. Vicky was at least 10 years old when she died this evening. The vet speculated heart or liver failure to be cause of death.

She was one tough cookie, though. She had survived starvation, a broken leg, an infected uterus, heartworms, and abandonment by her former owner, not necessarily in that order.

Despite all that, she was loyal and loving to the very end. Lay in the eternal sunshine and rest a while, Vicky—I’ll be along soon. n

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Bizu/WENN.com

Lady Gaga, Doggie Style Dogs go gaga for Lady Gaga

I

by Melissa Barr

n a world going increasingly digital, photographer Jesse Freidin dares to buck the trend. A loyal fan of traditional analog photography, he found himself in a unique position—desiring to do something to celebrate the unique and disappearing art of instant photography and in possession of the two of the last packs of original Polaroid instant film in the world, thanks to The Impossible Project, a Netherlandsbased company dedicated to reviving instant photography and manufacturing instant film. “I focused on how I could make something as different and beautiful as possible,” he says. The result, a series of bright, offbeat, Polaroid-hazy photographs of dogs dressed in outfits made famous by Lady Gaga, became an internet phenomenon that no one, least of all Jesse, could have predicted.

Jesse, a fine art dog photographer who was voted the 2010 Best Dog Photographer in the San Francisco Bay area in the Beast of the Bay awards, has, since his Gaga-inspired dog photos became a sensation, been featured on MTV, Entertainment Weekly, Much Music, and Live! with Regis and Kelly, just to name a few. On the phone, he sounds out-of-breath, overwhelmed, and somewhere on the verge of laughter or tears, it’s hard to tell. “Though I was aware that combining cute dogs, a pop-culture icon, and instant photography was a sure recipe for success, I had no idea that The Doggie Gaga Project would go completely viral,” he says, and in his blog, he writes, “The Doggie Gaga Project is my alter-ego. It is the colourful, fantastic, playful side-kick to my more refined Fine Art dog portraiture.”

The Doggie Gaga Project is my alter-ego.

86 moderndog summer 2010

But why Gaga? “I have a great amount of respect for her as an artist that pushes the limits, and is not afraid to be unique in her creativity,” he tells us. “She recently became the creative director for Polaroid, which will hopefully help push instant photography back into the mainstream. Since I am a hugely loyal fan of instant photography, it made sense to do a fun and creative project combining all those things.”

The dogs featured in the famous photos aren’t letting fame go to their heads. After all, they’re pretty used to attention and affection. The photographs feature Pitbulls Gunther and Booker, Shiba Inu Kiku, Xochitl the Mexican Hairless, and Pancake, Jesse’s own Boston Terrier.

As for what’s next, Jesse’s sudden fame has brought a lot of attention to his more traditional dog photography, and he’s booked up months in advance. The second Lady Gaga Project session is underway, and apparently, there is no slowing of public interest nor dwindling of items on his “To Do” list. “It’s a very exciting time for me. And Pancake. Pancake is used to getting smothered in attention and love at all times, but is particularly happy that the Doggie Gaga Project is drawing attention to Boston Terriers as the most superior breed of dog in the universe, as opposed to the most flatulent.”

To check out more on the Lady Gaga Project, as well as Jesse’s other work, check out his site at jessefreidin.com. n An ode to Lady Gaga’s red lace dress at the 2009 Video Music Awards.

This look is a recreation of Lady Gaga’s Kermit the Frog poncho worn during a German television interview in 2009.

This space-age disco look was inspired by the disco ball dress Lady Gaga wore at T in the Park Festival in Kinross, Scotland in 2009.

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Training

Deaf Dogs

By Jennifer Messer

88 moderndog su mmer 2010

Dear Dr. Messer I have a wonderful little Boston Terrier/French Bulldog cross that I just found out is profoundly deaf. It only makes her that much more precious to me, but I would be interested in an article about the trials, tribulations, and successes with deaf dogs. I give her a thumbs-up sign when she does well, but I’m not sure if I should ever give her a sign for “no,” or only for good. I am ignoring the people who say a deaf dog cannot be trained, but I could sure use some tips.—Alison, by email Alison, You’d be amazed at how common it is for deaf dogs to fool us into thinking they can hear. Just as deaf humans tend to capitalize on other senses, most deaf dogs take full advantage of their superb sense of smell, sight, and touch. In fact, they sometimes compensate so well for lack of hearing that it even gets them into trouble!

Take Whisper, a 3-year-old Australian Cattle Dog. Her first owners had no idea she was deaf, so pegged her as a “stubborn puppy” for not coming when called and “obstinate” for blowing off loud scolding. When they eventually realized she could not hear, they handed her over to a rescue organization.

With over 85 breeds affected by inherited deafness, you would think that the myths about deaf dogs being untrainable and making terrible pets would be ancient history, yet euthanasia is still shockingly common. Lucky for Whisper, Elise Bonder knew that such claims are nothing short of tall tales. Adopting Whisper with full knowledge of her deafness, Bonder was keen to make the few adaptations to standard training that were needed to bridge communication in Whisper’s silent world—including learning how to say “no!”

Let’s take a look at how basic training can be tweaked to help deaf dogs share our lives with all the joy, freedom, and safety we can offer them.

Signals Instead of Sounds Whether you want to tell your deaf dog that she’s been good or naughty, teach her a brand new command or ask her to follow an old one, the only difference in training is that you can’t rely on sound to get your message across. The universal “thumbs-up” signal is a great choice for the most important message of all—“good girl.” Now you need a clear signal for the opposite, so that she can benefit, just like a hearing dog, from knowing when you disapprove.

Whisper learned early on that if she pays attention to Bonder, there are lots of opportunities to score the good stuff, but that misdemeanors will be met with consequences.

“She knows that a stern frown and finger wag mean she’s done something wrong,” says Bonder. Early in training, this was paired with time outs, but now the signs alone are enough to send a clear message.

How many signs can you teach your dog? Some, like Whisper, boast a vocabulary of over 20, putting many a hearing dog to shame.

“Making up new ones for tricks is half the fun of training. She just learned beg and I finally decided on this,”—laughing, Bonder holds out a hat upside down—“as the sign! We put it on Facebook.”

Signs can represent specific commands, like “sit” or “don’t touch,” or they can give information: that you’ll be back in just a moment or that someone is at the door. At a minimum, you will want to teach “watch me,” “come,” and “stay.” The American Sign Language (ASL) dictionary is fun to peruse for ideas; just pick out signs you like and create your own meanings—you aren’t going to find “shake a paw” in the index!

Her first owners had no idea she was deaf, so pegged her as a “stubborn puppy” for not coming when called and “obstinate” for blowing off loud scolding.

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photo Elise Bonder

Whisper, a deaf Australian Catle Dog, is awarded a ribbon in Agility.

Regular lure-reward training works very well for teaching action signs to deaf dogs. For example, you can teach “down” by luring the dog into position with a treat, and then giving her the treat as a reward. Gradually phase out the treat and presto: moving your empty hand in a downwards motion becomes the command signal, reinforced with life rewards like walks, fetch, and belly rubs.

You can also use signs that have nothing to do with how you lure her in the teaching phase. For example, give the ASL sign for bed (resting side of your head against your open palm) and then lure her there with encouragement or kibble, rewarding her upon arrival with whatever turns her crank. Soon enough, she’ll catch on to the signal without needing the lure.

Dogs are tremendous visual learners. In fact, they often pick up on hand signals much faster than verbal commands. And there are even advantages to using sign language, according to Bonder.

“Your training is very resistant to being ruined by others. You know how everybody always wants to make your dog sit? You go somewhere and they say sit sit sit and the dog is thinking I really don’t feel like sitting right now. You don’t have that problem with deaf dogs, because you essentially have a secret language.”

training. But what about those situations where you don’t have eye contact?

Truth be told, this is a challenge. While hearing dogs can be engaged verbally from out of sight, there are limited options for communicating with a deaf dog that cannot see you. You can flicker the porch light or shine a flashlight into the yard for “come in” at night, jiggle the leash for “look at me” on walks, and toss a lightweight toy into sight or stomp on the floor for “turn to me.”

And then there is the Cadillac of remote technology for deaf dogs: the vibration collar. Some people use the vibration as a command for “come,” others for “look at me.” Either is fine because, once you have eye contact, you can switch to visual signals. V-collars are a wonderful invention, but don’t be fooled into thinking that a high-tech device will do the training for you. Even when a deaf dog has been “paged,” she can be just as selective as a hearing dog about responding… and we have all seen lots of dogs with selective hearing! How well she obeys you will depend on good training, not just a good collar.

In addition, remote collars aren’t for everyone. Some guardians, like Bonder, are not comfortable relying on technology and prefer to train up a very reliable check-in instead.

“Whisper just didn’t take notice of the vibration, so I opted to train her to stay pretty close when off leash, and check in very frequently. I would always just feed her when she was near me, and she got the concept that being close to me is good. As her confidence grew, she ventured out a bit but she’d always look back at me to check in; if I gave her the thumbs-up, she’d keep going, if I didn’t do anything, she’d come back, and I just reinforced that. At home, I taught her that an open door doesn’t mean she can take off unless I give her permission.”

Whisper is never off leash in unsafe areas, only in places far from traffic and mostly fenced, but whether you let your dog off leash at all is a personal choice. While acknowledging the risk of misadventure, some deaf dog guardians like Bonder feel that good training combined with very carefully chosen venues for off-leash romps is a responsible balance of safety and freedom. There is no right answer, but also no escaping the fact that you need to take extra measures to protect your deaf dog from the dangers ordinarily accompanied by warning sounds, traffic being the most common.

As for the risk of a dog becoming lost and not being able to hear your call, there is no harm in fitting her with a GPS. Yup, they make them for pooches—designed for hunting dogs, but who says they need to be working to wear one?

You need to take extra measures to protect your deaf dog from the dangers ordinarily accompanied by warning sounds.

Getting Your Dog’s Attention So, provided you have eye contact when you are trying to communicate, deaf dogs are hardly at a disadvantage with non-verbal

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Special Social Needs Even the most stellar training cannot make up for the deaf dog’s inability to perceive natural sounds that have social significance, so to live with a deaf dog that is safe and secure you need to do more than just teach sign vocabulary, you’ll also have to meet some special social needs.

Touch sensitivity: “Oh, it’s just you!”

Deaf dogs often startle to being touched the way a hearing dog startles to unexpected noise. Most will alert to being touched by surprise, such as from behind, and then recover, just like a hearing dog usually recovers from a loud bang. Many and frequent surprise touches followed by super treats will go a long way toward creating a touchaholic who is pretty startle-proof, especially if you start this in puppyhood, as Bonder did.

“I took the time to train Whisper out of it as a puppy. We would actually wake her up really abruptly, give her hot dogs, then tell her to go back to bed. She’s never reacted aggressively.”

Some deaf dogs, however, are quite sensitive and need extra work to avoid being anxious or fearfully aggressive when touched unexpectedly. If they don’t acclimatize, they may require careful management for everyone’s wellbeing. Outside of hot-dog training sessions, the sensitive and startle-proof alike should be given the courtesy of a gentle warning, such as blowing an air puff kiss or tapping the floor, before waking them from sleep.

Peer pressure: “You talkin’ to me?”

Suggested Resources deafdogs.org/training Living With a Deaf Dog, Susan Cope Becker, 1997 Hear Hear: A Guide to Training a Deaf Dog, Barry Eaton, 2005 n Building your own vibrating collar http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/CollarInstructions.html n Vibration collars http://www.deafdogs.org/resources/vibramakers.php n Free sign language video dictionary at signingsavvy.com n Deaf dog list on yahoo

92 moderndog su mmer 2010

Playbiting that hurts: “Did you say ‘ouch’?”

The squeal from a dog or human that lets a pup know she is playbiting too hard is a useless message to a deaf puppy. Hearing puppies acting like piranhas will gradually soften their bite in response to yelps and refusal to play. The deaf puppy needs diligent feedback of ending play abruptly in response to her hardest bites, so that her mouth gradually softens. Deaf puppies usually learn this more slowly than hearing pups, as Whisper’s puppyhood nickname “gator” suggests, but they are able to learn it nonetheless. Safe adult dogs with good social skills can be a big help by using their full spectrum of body language in teaching the little land shark to ease up.

Deaf dogs often startle to being touched the way a hearing dog startles to unexpected noise.

Interestingly, while some deaf dogs seem to be able to pull the wool over our human eyes, their disability doesn’t slip by other dogs quite as easily. One of the challenges in living with a deaf dog is managing her around her own species, as deaf dogs are often misread as being socially inappropriate and, like Whisper, can even be attacked for not responding normally to vocal cues.

“I used to go to the dog park with her and she would get picked on,” Bonder explains. “A dog would come up behind her

n n n

and bark like I wanna play and she’d ignore them because she can’t hear them, and the dog goes Well, why did you ignore me, that’s rude! and they’d nail her. I’ve had to pull numerous dogs off her.”

To keep your dog safe, you must be extra careful about choosing her playmates and you need to establish a “heads-up” prompt to warn her when other dogs are approaching from a blind side.

“I’m cautious about who I let her socialize with, and, if a dog is coming up behind her, I give her a tap and point. It’s a social ‘head’s-up’ that we use for lots of different things.”

Teamwork

The bottom line is that you and your dog will need to work together to fill in missing information. Acting as your dog’s ears and taking extra safety precautions is your part of the deal, and will complement your dog’s natural inclination to make the most of her sight, smell, and touch. As Bonder will confirm, deaf dogs are pretty savvy about capitalizing on their other senses.

“Whisper sleeps in the crook of my legs so, if I move, she knows. And during the day, she’ll often fall asleep touching my foot. Sight and smell are huge for her. She likes high spots so she can see everything. If you take a shower, she’ll stand right outside so she knows when you get out. It isn’t anxiety—it’s just her own way of making sure she knows where her people are.”

Not only have Bonder and her deaf dog met the challenges of day-to-day life, they have also competed in agility. Whisper’s ribbons are a clear testament to great teamwork, and her success flies in the face of those who argue that deaf dogs are untrainable.

Her disability actually made her a natural in this fast-paced sport, according to Bonder.

“If you think about what you are always teaching a deaf dog— ‘follow me,’ ‘look at me’— agility is sooooooo easy: follow me while jumping over this fun thing, follow me while going through this cool tunnel. She just loved it! Agility is so based on body language that deafness was a total moot issue.”

Although Whisper is now retired from agility and flyball, Bonder keeps her busy with tracking and obedience.

“Every dog wants mental stimulation, physical exercise,

affection, and food. They need those things to be happy healthy dogs…in doing these sports, you are giving your dog what she needs to be a good canine member of society, and if you do that, you wind up with a dog that is happy.”

Clearly it takes a bit of extra effort and creativity to train a deaf dog.

And maybe even an extra dose of patience and humility as you navigate unfamiliar ground. Deaf dogs are different, for certain. But aren’t we all just a little bit different, yet equally precious?

“For perhaps, if the truth were known, we are all a little blind, a little deaf, a little handicapped, a little lonely, a little less than perfect. And if we can learn to appreciate and utilize the dog’s full potential, we will, together, make it in this life on earth.”—Author unknown

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Dogs of War

U.S. Sergeant Marcus Mayward is licked by a dog trained to sniff for explosives inside a military vehicle during security operations in Diyala province August 7, 2008. U.S. and Iraqi forces had routed al Qaeda in Baghdad and Western Iraq, and the Sunni Islamist group had since regrouped in Iraq’s north, including Diyala, where a major security operation was underway to crush insurgents.

REUTERS/Andrea Comas (IRAQ)

96 moderndog summer 2010

D

ogs are known for their resilience, loyalty, and courage. Throughout history, humankind has found many uses for these traits in times of war, using dogs as

messengers, guards, soldiers, scouts, and, more recently, in bomb detection and search and rescue. Countless dogs have given their lives for ours, whether prompted by devotion or training. But arguably more valuable still is the bit of hope and comfort they offer in times of terrible hardship, providing a sense of belonging, friendship, and family to soldiers, no matmuch humankind has put them through. Dogs of war, both those trained for it and those caught in the crossfire, are a testament to courage. Though lost in the shadows of battle, these dogs have proven again and again that love, loyalty, and above all, forgiveness, can be found in the darkest places.

Shadow, an Afghan puppy owned

by Canadian soldiers from the NATO-led coalition, sits in his sand-bagged kennel at Three Tank Hill base near Panjwaii town in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, October 27, 2007.

REUTERS/Finbarr O’Reilly (AFGHANISTAN)

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A puppy sleeps under a U.S soldier’s hat and rifles in Baquba, in Diyala province some 65 km (40 miles) northeast of Baghdad November 6, 2008.

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Israeli soldiers walk together near Netiv Haasara, just outside the northern Gaza Strip, February 25, 2008. Palestinians protesting against an Israeli-led blockade formed a human chain along roads in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and Israel threatened to use force if they tried to surge into its territory.

Israeli troops garrisoned along the closely monitored, fenced frontier with the Gaza Strip were on high alert and paramilitary riot police on standby.

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A dog handler relaxes with his search dog during a break in an armoured patrol with the Household Cavalry in Southern Helmand province, Afghanistan November 13, 2007.

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Portland, Oregon

Battle of the pet-friendly properties: Jupiter Hotel vs. Hotel deLuxe

by Karin Sinkevicius

Jupiter Hotel 800 East Burnside (503) 230-9200 jupiterhotel.com A converted 1960s motor lodge, the eclectic Jupiter Hotel welcomes pets and two-legged travelers alike with quirky charm. The locally owned boutique hotel, located within walking distance of renowned restaurants, and a short jaunt from downtown, strives to be sustainable, offering Natura eco-friendly bath amenities, inroom recycling, and U Car Share services. Shack up in one of the minimalist, retro-themed rooms—which have been featured in Elle Décor magazine, no less—then stop by the hotel’s Wack Salon for a creative cut or rent a Parisian city bike to tour Portland. Later, have a drink on the frequently packed fireplace patio, or take in a live concert at the Jupiter’s Doug Fir Restaurant & Lounge, one of the city’s premiere venues. Hold off on check-in until after the show— and midnight—for room rates starting at a budget-friendly $59 (Fido will have to pay an additional $30 per night.) With any luck, the Jupiter’s monthly Yappy Hour, sponsored by LexiDog Boutique & Social Club and in benefit of the Oregon Humane Society, will take place during your stay. Check with the front desk.

Best for: Cool kids and their dogs in search of a very happening hotel—who don’t mind the bit of noise that goes along with it.

Hotel deLuxe 729 SW 15 Ave. (866) 986-8085 hoteldeluxeportland.com With a nod to Hollywood’s Golden Era, Hotel deLuxe is all stately columns, art deco details, and art moderne lines.

From the restrained luxury of the aptly named Marlene Dietrich Suite to the posh amenities of a standard room, the Hotel deLuxe, a consecutive winner of Conde Nast’s Traveler’s Gold List: Top Hotels in the US, delights.

With touches like perfect lighting, theatrical floor-to-ceiling drapes, and iPod docking stations, the historic renovation of Hotel deLuxe leaves little wanting. Located downtown, it’s steps from the Max Rail for easy exploring of more distant neighbourhoods, and close to the shopping and restaurants of Nob Hill and the Pearl District. While you settle into your glam digs, your dog will surely appreciate the welcoming pet package. Included in the one-time, non-refundable pet fee of $45 is a bed and bowls, bottle of Voss water, treats, toys, and a list of dog resources in the area. There’s even a doggie room service menu with options like Mediterranean Banquet, and, with advance notice, in-room canine massage can be booked, ensuring your pup feels as pampered as you do.

Best for: Those looking for a dose of old world luxury, impeccable service, and a touch of romance to their surroundings.

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Featured; CeCe KENT Charles Newport Collection

102 moderndog SUMMER 2010

art attack

by Marni Wedin

Ken Bailey

Ken Bailey is a prime example of how doing what you love can breed success. What he loves is portraying dogs as “art stars” and celebrating them as the special, loving creatures that they are. Reminiscent of vintage advertising posters, his paintings evoke an emotional connection, a moment of pause, and a smile.

At first glance, his work appears deceptively simple. But on closer inspection, it’s ripe with contrast, movement, and hardline precision. Using acrylics on canvas, he first paints the lettering. This is the most laborious part of the process and can take up to a week. He then goes straight to paint and just roughs out a design before he starts. For Bailey, it’s how the catch phrases, the dog, and the product in each piece all work together that makes a painting successful.

Bailey recalls always having loved art. His first piece was a pen and ink tree. “My parents really liked it,” he remembers.

“I found out then that I was pretty good at it. You get credit for what you’re good at. If you’re not good at something, it’s always a struggle.”

Before Bailey embraced art as a career, he worked in adver-

tising and marketing. Staying true to his passion, he soon left that field to open a gallery of Northwest Indian art. He’d display some of his own work on occasion. The first dog he painted was his wife’s Giant Schnauzer, Genny. “People really liked that painting. So, I started doing other dogs and it just went from there.”

While Bailey took art classes in junior high and high school, he’s primarily self-taught. “If you have the basic techniques down, I’m not sure what art school can do for you,” he says.

“Sometimes school can over-teach people.” He also shies away from awards and competitions: “I don’t care what judges think, I care what people think.”

Bailey currently owns two dogs that he adopted from a rescue and feels it’s important to give back. He regularly donates pieces of art to rescue fundraisers. “If I ever won the lottery, I’d give it all away. The people who run those organizations are incredible and so giving and selfless. I do my part, but I wish I could do more.”

Prices begin at $245 for original paintings; commissions begin at $2500. To contact Ken, visit kenbailey.com. n moderndogmagazine.com

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106 moderndog SUMMER 2010

Above: from Dogplay: The Canine Guide to Being Happy © 2010 Stewart, Tabori, & Chang

Connie’s Book Club Relax with a good dog and a good book

Editor-in-Chief Connie Wilson’s selection of great summer reads.

Marcus of Umbria: What an Italian Dog Taught an American Girl about Love (Rodale; 2010)

By Justine van der Leun Fans of books like Eat, Pray, Love will enjoy Marcus of Umbria, a story of self-discovery rooted in travel, romance, friendship, and adventure. Fed up with her fast-paced life in New York City, Justine van der Leun leaves her job, sublets her apartment, and moves to a small historic Umbrian farming village, population: 200. In pursuit of a new love and a new life, she sets up in this tiny town, beginning a romance with the local farmer she met on vacation. Through this relationship, she learns about the deep and rich traditions of the Italian townspeople, but finds the cultural adjustment more difficult than she has imagined. When the love affair sours, Justine finds a new love in an unexpected place—a rusty, tick-infested pen. Marcus, the hunting dog she rescues from this pit, becomes her longed-for companion and it’s through their exploration of the picturesque countryside that Justine discovers an existence deeply connected with the earth and develops a clearer understanding of herself and ideals, the intersection of culture and character, and the intricacies and joys of Italian small-town life. A perfect book to bring on vacation.

Dogplay: The Canine Guide to Being Happy (Stewart, Tabori, & Chang; 2010)

By Christine Montaquila Each page of this charming coffee-table book pairs captivating photos of adorable dogs with meaningful captions that provide us with excellent life lessons. As we dog folk know, who better than dogs to remind us of what’s truly important in life? These dogs certainly dish out wisdom; with no-nonsense everyday advice on subjects such as taking time to enjoy life (“Remember life isn’t a busy contest”), maintaining a youthful exuberance (“Relive the best parts of your childhood”), being positive (“Become a pathological optimist”) and being a faithful friend, (“Put loyalty up there with ice cream”), this book will put a smile on your face and serve as a daily reminder to take pleasure in the little things and look for the silver lining.

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The Exile Book of Canadian Dog Stories (Exile Editions; 2010) Edited by Richard Teleky Twenty-eight exceptional dog tales by some of Canada’s most notable fiction writers have been compiled in this feast of short stories. As Teleky, the editor of the collection, states, it’s “not a collection of sentimental tales about noble dogs doing heroic deeds but rather stories that portray the rich and complex and mysterious bonds between dogs and humans.” The roles the dogs play in the stories, whether small or large, are those of an essential counterpart to the human characters, revealing truths through the way the dogs are regarded. With works from earlier storytellers the likes of Ernest Thompson Seton (a founding pioneer of Boys Scouts of America) to contemporary writers such as Lynn Cody, the stories run the breadth of adventure, drama, satire, and even fantasy, and will appeal to dog lovers on both sides of the border.

Energy Healing for Dogs: Using Hands-On Healing to Improve Canine Health and Behavior (Phantom; 2009)

By Nicole Wilde If you’re interested in learning about hands-on energy healing such as Reiki, Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch, and Quantum Touch, Energy Healing for Dogs is for you. Author Nicole Wilde asserts that all of us are able to do energy work, and outlines how in the straightforward, easy-to-understand steps in her book.

She teaches how to develop a sensitivity to energy and instructs on how to gather it and use it to help our dogs recover faster from surgery, ease arthritic joints, help wounds and joints recover faster, and calm nervous animals, even those with physical, emotional, and mental issues. Best of all, Wilde’s approach provides a loving, calm, painless approach that allows you to spend quality one-on-one time with your pooch while easing her pain and promoting healing.

Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals (Mariner; 2010)

By Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson Accomplished scientist, professor, author, and animal advocate, the remarkable Temple Grandin uses her personal experience with autism and “thinking in pictures” to explain how animals perceive their environment. In Animals Make Us Human, she offers eye-opening, fascinating insight into how the animals in our care feel and why they behave the ways they do.

Grandin says that determining an animal’s physical pain is easy,

108 moderndog SUMMER 2010

but recognizing emotional distress is much harder. By identifying and understanding animals’ core emotion systems we can stimulate positive emotions like seeking and playing while ensuring they’re free from negative ones like fear, panic, and rage. If you’d like to become a better advocate for our fellow creatures or would simply like to learn how to create the best possible physical and emotional environment for your own dogs, Animals Make Us Human is a must-read, forever changing your idea of what animals want and need.

Last Dog On The Hill: The Extraordinary Life of Lou (St. Martin’s; 2010)

By Steve Duno When Steve Duno rescued an ailing, tickand flea-infested Rottweiler/Shepherd mix, little did he know just how much that malnourished feral pup would change his life and those of countless others. The moving story that unfolds allows us to witness the powerful emotional bond that develops between an exceptionally intelligent dog and the man with whom he shared his life. You’ll marvel at the antics and escapades of heroic Lou, the dog who not only acts as a teacher’s aide in Duno’s tutoring job, but wins the respect of neighbourhood gang members, assists in the capture of armed robbers, and even catches a rapist.

Eventually, he sparks Duno’s transition to a career in dog training and assists with the rehabilitation of aggressive dogs, thereby saving them from euthanasia. It’s difficult not to be charmed by this unique dog’s ability to understand (his vocabulary tops 200 words), or his uncanny knack to quickly learn and remember tricks. Memorable from beginning to end, this tribute to a truly great dog will make you laugh, cry, and recall your own memories of special dogs. n

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Bothered and bewildered?

Crazed and confused?

If your doggie dilemma has you down in the dumps…

Q

ask dog lady A

Dear Dog Lady, I have a problem involving my love and his dog. I have been with my boyfriend for five and a half months. He’s everything I dreamed I would find in a man. We aren’t officially living together yet, but we are slowly working towards it. He has a beautiful three-year-old blonde Labrador Retriever named Sadie. She is his love. I understand why because she is truly one of the smartest and sweetest dogs I’ve ever met.

The problem is as clear as glass. He truly loves his dog more than he will ever love me. He does not ever leave Sadie alone for longer than six hours or we have to take her to his parents so they can watch her while we go out. When we are at home just hanging out, he repetitively and constantly says her name in whispers and baby talk voice: “Saaaadie Saaadie girl” or “Sadie girl I love you” over and over. He never talks cute or sweet like that to me.

I just can’t help but feel neglected by my boyfriend and feel jealous of how he treats Sadie differently than how he treats me. I wonder if I am fighting a losing battle. I think he only needs Sadie in his life to make him happy.

—Jessica, Los Angeles, CA

Dear Jessica, he’s just not that into you. The classic line from the juicy and provocative TV series Sex and the City—about making excuses for people we yearn for—bears repeating in this situation. You have laid out the scenario succinctly. He may or may not be heaping too much attention on his dog. If you are noticing and feeling left out, he is definitely going overboard. He should whisper streams of sweet nothings to his girlfriend, the woman kind, because that’s the loving thing to do.

“He’s just not that into you.”

Unless you’re willing to date others, to pull yourself away, to be less available, to be more remote so that he will have to move toward you, you should be prepared to stew about sexy Sadie, a leggy blonde with a clamp on your boyfriend’s heart.

Dear Dog Lady, We have Katie, a one-year-old Lakeland Terrier that has a behaviour I’ll bet you have never heard of. Besides being a kleptomaniac and having more nerve than Dick Tracy, she does the most peculiar thing

when asking to go outside to do her business. She goes to the door, sits patiently, and gets hysterically excited when someone comes to let her out. When the door is opened she tries to back up and push her way into the house. When forced out the door, she wheels around and jumps at and body slams the door. She does this whether or not she has to go. Then she casually walks off to do her thing. Short of giving her antipsychotic meds, we are stumped as to what to do.

—Cathy, Sault Ste Marie, ON Dear Cathy, oh, do nothing and admit you’re secretly pleased with Katie’s bravura performance. Dog Lady does not have a clue how this behaviour started. Nor does she have a clue how it will end. You’re kidding about giving her antipsychotic drugs, right? If not, snap out of it.

Our dogs do stunts that boggle the mind. In fact, your description about how Katie whipsaws, backs up, and body slams defied imagination. Nowhere do you say that she hurts anybody, even herself.

There seems no need to curb the behavior, although you might want to reinforce the ole “sit stay” command, which really does wonders in a variety of situations.

(It’s when you tell the dog to sit, stay, and focus on you).

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ask dog lady Dear Dog Lady, I have a wonderful mixed-breed girl named Zoey whom we believe is a Shepherd/Lab/Husky mix. A dear friend who is a veterinarian found her dumped and frightened outside his clinic. She has the sweetest disposition and bonded with my boyfriend and me immediately. We’ve had her for three years and can’t imagine our lives without her. Within the past year, I’ve noticed that she slips some acorns into her mouth to snack on as we walk through the neighbourhood. For the most part, I can prevent this, so it happens occasionally. She is a healthy dog and I have no idea why she is doing this, unless this is the equivalent of popcorn at a movie since she loves her walks. Can you enlighten me on this?

—Florence, Milwaukee, WI

He misses you only when you show up again.

Dear Florence, your analogy about scarfing down popcorn at a movie is sweet. Yes, this is the way to think about your dog with acorns. And the nuts don’t cost a small mortgage for a tiny bag with faux butter.

Zoey must be hungry, bonding with squirrels, or need crunchies in her diet. There is no indication that acorns are toxic for dogs but you probably do not want your dog to subsist on a steady diet of them. Check with your veterinarian

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ask dog lady about this, of course. You might want to carry a biscuit or two in your pocket so you can substitute a cookie when Zoey gets the crunchies.

Dear Dog Lady, Can dogs miss a loved one? Recently my wife and I separated and our three-year-old mixed dog, Rocky, has been very clingy since I moved out of the house. When he visits me, he won’t leave me alone and follows me from room to room. He is very close to me. Is this normal behaviour? What can be done in a case like this because right now he can’t live with me?

—Omar, Cleveland, OH Dear Omar, modern life can be so confusing for dogs. These are animals that thrive on constancy and things remaining in place. They don’t understand complicated marital problems and separation in any form. Rocky only knows you—your smells, your attentions—were around all the time and now you’re not.

Sure, he misses you. He is over-the-moon to see you again. It is entirely normal for dogs to cozy up exuberantly to their special people. Make sure you are extra good to him. Tire him out with long walks and lots of exercise. You both need the work-

outs right now. When he is pooped out and sleeps, he won’t be as keen to follow you around anxiously.

You should understand that when you leave and your estranged wife takes care of him in your former home, Rocky is probably fine. He misses you only when you show up again—if you can follow that twisted logic. For the most part, dogs are situational.

If they can’t be with the ones they love, they love the ones they’re with.

You and your ex-wife should continue to share custody of Rocky. This pet-sharing scheme is a very civil arrangement.

You should feel proud because, by working together, you acknowledge your dog has feelings too.

He either Dear Dog Lady, accommodates My boyfriend has never had a your ways or gets dog before. He says he doesn’t care for dogs, but out of the way. particularly he is good with Koda, my

*

Dear Jen, you don’t have to explain. It’s your life and he’s welcome to enjoy

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Five readers and their lucky dogs will win one pound of Canine Complete Joint Mobility from The Wholistic Pet. Organic and human-grade ingredients combine in this joint-support supplement to make aging easier on our dogs. For contest details, see page 135; for more info, go to thewholisticpet.com.

114 moderndog SUMMER 2010

Shepherd-mix. He just doesn’t understand why Koda doesn’t stay outside all the time and why I treat her like a member of the family. I’m not willing to give up my dog or banish her to the backyard.

How do I explain this?

—Jen, Portsmouth, NH

Happy Days

Five lucky winners will win a Happy Set variety pack of JerHigh Dog Snacks, containing three packs of yummy treats in flavours ranging from salami to bacon to cheese and sausage. For contest details, see page 135; for more info, go to jerhigh.com.

Photo Lindse

y Donovan

Modern Dog Writing Contest “How I met my dog”

We know you have a story to tell! Whether a “meet cute,” a mutual rescue, or a fromloathing-to-love story, we want to hear it. Winning stories will be published in the upcoming winter issue of Modern Dog.

{

Here’s how to enter:

}

* Must be creative non-fiction (personal essay, memoir, humour writing, biography)

* Submitted work must be original and not previously published

* Must be no more than 800 words in length * Entries must be submitted electronically via moderndogmagazine.com/yourstorycontest

* Entries must be received by September 1, 2010 * Entry fee of $15 in the US/$18 in Canada includes free one-year subscription to Modern Dog

*

For the complete contest rules, including instructions on how to submit your story, please go to moderndog magazine.com/ yourstorycontest

We look forward to reading your stories!

ask dog lady it. You have invited your boyfriend in and he either accommodates your ways or gets out of the way. This is the beauty of two people deciding to mesh. Each one sees how the other half lives. If there are big problems with lifestyle, no one has the right to impose a will because there’s always an “exit.” Demanding that someone change is always a foolish course.

Your boyfriend certainly has the right to tell you he’s not wild about allowing Koda indoors and treating her as a member of the family. You can listen politely, compassionately— and keep on treating the dog as you darned well please.

Continue to do what’s best for you as long as your dog is not harming your boyfriend in any way. There’s plenty of time for deeper conversation as things go on.

Dear Dog Lady, I have a Border Collie mix—I think with some Sheltie. Mackie is a very good dog. We adopted him six years ago when he was eight months old. He’s a bit on the nervous side but overall very friendly when you get to know him. The problem is that he is very scared and fearful of my dad and brother. When they pay a visit, he acts like they are coming in to murder us. He gets so angry with barks and growls. My family just ignores him.

But I have to put him in a separate room. What makes him act this way? He is normal with the rest of the guests that come over.

—Christina, Vancouver, BC Dear Christina, we could go into all the Fido-Freudian possible reasons for this but it’s important to remember: Mackie is a dog. Still, let’s ponder. Maybe he was spooked by men resembling your father and your brother in early puppyhood before you got him, or Mackie feels he must protect you from these scary men. Perhaps Mackie somehow had a bad experience with your dad and brother and fears them or they fear him and give off vibes of terror, or—Dog Lady’s favourite—Mackie just doesn’t like these guys for whatever motive.

You have had Mackie for six years. Is there a particular reason you’re concerned about this now? It sounds as if everybody deals with Mackie’s barking and growling in a very sensible way. Your family ignores him, which is exactly what they should do, and you put him in another room. Perfect.

You can try larding your dad and brother with dog treats when they come over. If Mackie stops barking, allow the dog to enter their midst. If he shows any interest in your dad or brother, they can gently, quietly and nonchalantly offer the dog a treat. Such bribery might get them favourable notice.

Visit askdoglady.com to ask a question or make a comment.

116 moderndog SUMMER 2010

Myth Barkers!

Dispelling common misconceptions concerning canines

By Jonathon Brown

A dog has kisses sweeter than wine. Dogs are colour blind. If your dog is a wag, he’s happy.

These are but a few of the multitude of age-old beliefs concerning dogs that are held to be true—but are they? You may be surprised. We challenge the myths with the help of Dr. Stanley Coren PhD FRSC of the University of British Columbia’s Department of Psychology and author of The Modern Dog, among many other titles.

Is a summer shave a good idea?

With the sweltering summer season upon us, seeing our pooches panting away with their tongues out may make us want to free them from their fur coats by giving them a good shave to cool down, but is this really a good idea?

“Bad idea,” says Dr. Coren. “A fur coat acts like the wall of a thermos. It acts as a barrier, keeping cool things cool and hot things hot. The heat dissipates, keeping a dog cool in the summmer. When you shave that coat, the heat won’t dissipate, so your dog will just become more hot.”

Are dogs totally colour blind?

You’re playing with your dog in a park, and notice she sometimes misses her toy in the grass. It’s brightly coloured enough, but she passes over it a few times and can’t seem to find it easily. Just how well do dogs perceive colour?

According to Dr. Coren, “Dogs see the world in two colours, whereas people see the world in three. Everything a dog sees are in shades of yellow & blue, so while they can see a tree, they can’t pick up cherries.” As it so happens, the most popular colour for dog toys among consumers is usually bright shades of red, or

safety orange, so throwing a toy into a field makes it hard for your dog to find it.

“In a dog’s eyes it’s the same as the grass, only darker. So when Lassie runs by it, it’s not that she’s dumb, she just can’t see it,” says Dr. Coren.

Is a dog’s mouth cleaner than a human’s mouth?

Eventually, your loyal dog will carry the toy back in her jowls and drop it at your feet.

You pick the toy up, and it has a healthy coat of gooey slobber on it, made just slightly more disgusting by the dirt and grass in the mix. You ask yourself, is a dog’s mouth really any cleaner than a human’s mouth?

“The answer is mixed,” says Dr. Coren, “The saliva in a dog’s mouth contains antibiotic chemicals, and, to that extent, a dog licking a wound is helpful—but if he has been eating poop 10 minutes earlier, the answer is no.” Verdict: If you don’t know where your dog has just been when he comes to give you a few good licks, you might want to give your face a wash after.

Does a wagging tail equal a happy dog?

you, wagging his tail. It is safe to pet him?

According to Dr. Coren, there are three aspects to tail wagging: How the dog holds his tail; the speed of the tail wag; and how large the tail movements are. “High, quick, short strokes say ‘I’m the boss around here, give me some space,’ whereas a low tail swung slowly can mean the dog is confused. The closest thing to a happy wag you can get is the tail held moderately low, swinging back and forth taking the hips with it.”

(Though any kind of wag accompanied by a foaming mouth means you might want to consider high-tailing it out of there.)

Can dogs sense an impending earthquake?

Your dog starts to act oddly, perhaps whining anxiously or running from room to room for no apparent reason. Minutes later an earth tremor makes the dishes rattle in your cupboards. Are dogs able to sense an impending geological disturbance?

Dr. Coren believes it possible, however, he notes it depends on the nature of the earthquake. Earthquakes caused by plates colliding at not too great a depth are most likely to produce a vibration that dogs will pick up on. “The high frequency of rocks scratching each other, as well as the depth of the earthquake, would inhibit a dog’s ability to hear it”. says Coren. n

An unfamiliar dog approaches

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Training Trials?

Ask an Expert

Our Fab Five answer your most pressing training

questions

Ask Colleen Safford

Q:

My sweet but weird Jack Russellrescue, Zig, happily walks on grass and other surfaces but has a phobia of the cracks in the sidewalk, making walk-time difficult. How can I help him overcome this odd reaction to sidewalk cracks so we can go out and about together?”—Cracked in Cambridge

A:

Perhaps Zig is training for the next reality show, Dancing with Dogs!

Many charming dogs like Zig exhibit surface phobias. For some, a lack of early exposure can lead to anxieties with new sensations under paw. In other cases, just like us, some dogs simply have quirky preferences.

Whatever the cause for these jitters, we need to motivate Zig, build his confidence and help him realize the sidewalk is a place The second you hit the sidewalk, turn on your happy voice where good things happen. and pull out the toy. Dangle the toy, inviting Zig to a game of tug.

Supplies: One hungry Zig, one bag of treats, one out-of-thisOffer praise the entire time, as Zig tugs the toy while trotting 10-15 world-fun toy, and one happy, motivated owner. steps over a few cracks. Keeping the forward momentum, offer Zig Food motivation: Many wise trainers have said, “The route to a a treat in exchange for him to release the toy. Quickly put the toy dog’s brain is through his belly.” To increase away as you say “follow me,” and continue to Zig’s overall motivation and eagerness to pay jaunt along quickly. Reward Zig with treats and attention to you, use his daily food rations continued praise every few steps while crossing Help him realize (marinated in something delicious) as rewards over cracks. during your sidewalk jaunts.

After 10-15 steps, allow Zig another tug sesthe sidewalk is a Toy motivation: Purchase a brand new toy sion with the toy. Repeat bouncing back and place where good that you know will send Zig orbiting. Put the forth between tug sessions and “follow me” durthings happen. toy in a drawer where he cannot access it. A ing each walk. few times daily for one week, turn on your If you are not up for tug and “follow me,” happiest voice as you pull out the toy. Toss it do not walk on the sidewalk. Sidewalk time is in the air (you catch it—not him) and play with it for 30 seconds happy training time! or so. Allow Zig a very brief sniff of the toy, before quickly returnGradually over the weeks, as Zig becomes more comfortable ing it to the drawer and continuing with your routine as normal. cruising over those pesky cracks, you will slowly decrease the Zig will learn that life is good when that toy is around! number of rewards and tug sessions during each walk. Eventually, Taking it to the streets: Keep your sessions short and sweet to a tug session and reward will be earned at the end of a long and begin, working at a level where Zig is clearly comfortable. If you leisurely stroll. n do your work properly, he shouldn’t even realize he’s crossing over cracks.

As host of The Family Pet on Pet Life Radio, dog trainer Colleen Safford raises awareness on pet-child safety, appropriate pet selection, and understanding dog Treats in hand and toy in pocket, take Zig outdoors on leash. body language. Colleen’s companies, NY Walk & Train and Far Fetched Acres, have During each session, you are going to interchange between playing been voted “Best of NY” by New York Magazine and offer quality, life-enriching mini sessions of tug and encouraging Zig to follow as you briskly services to Manhattan’s pooch population. Colleen receives daily training from her walk along. toddler children and is proudly owned by her rescued Boxer(ish). moderndogmagazine.com

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Ask an Expert Ask Teoti Anderson

Ask Delores Wall

It seems my dog, Birdie, has a footwear fetish. How can I prevent chewed shoes? Obviously putting them away would be a good start but this just doesn’t always happen.

My dog, Misha, obsessively humps one of her teddy bears, which is fine, if embarrassing when we have company over.

Just wondering why on earth she does this.

—Soleless in Sonoma

—Red-faced in Red Hook, Brooklyn

Q:

A:

You’re right that putting away your shoes is a surefire way of ensuring Birdie doesn’t destroy them. Remember, too, it’s not fair to get angry with her for chewing your shoes if you leave them lying around. She’s a dog. Dogs chew—especially if you leave a buffet of really delectable soles where they can reach them. Your shoes smell like you, so they can be very appealing to your dog.

To help redirect Birdie’s teeth, give her something else to chomp on. Try stuffing some hollow rubber chew toys. Smear a thick layer of peanut butter in the Your shoes bottom of the opening. Then layer in some of Birdie’s kibble, along smell like you, with some really tempting treats. so they can be Add another smear of peanut butvery appealing ter to glue it all together and stick a to your dog. dog cookie out of the end. Give this to Birdie when you can’t supervise her. It’s like a doggie pacifier.

If she gets really good at vacuuming the goodies out of the toy, try freezing it first.

You can also exercise Birdie’s brain as well as her jaws with a variety of puzzle toys. You hide food in the toys and Birdie works to get the food out. You can put Birdie’s breakfast and dinner kibble in the toys and make her work for her meals, which is great exercise. If she’s chasing toys around the house, she’s not munching on your stilettos.

Find other safe temptations for Birdie to chew, such as bully sticks or deer antlers. Be sure to rotate all items so she doesn’t get bored.

In the meantime, make yourself a note to put away your shoes and leave it where you can easily see it every day. Otherwise, you’ll be spending a lot of time and money on new footwear! n Teoti Anderson, CPDT, owns Pawsitive Results, LLC (getpawsitiveresults.com), and is the past president of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She is the author of Your Outta Control Puppy, Super Simple Guide to Housetraining, Quick and Easy Crate Training, and Puppy Care and Training.

120 moderndog SUMMER 2010

Q:

A:

I still remember one of my classes: five small dogs doing choo-choo train with each other.

We just stood there and had a good laugh for a moment, then redirected them to other behaviours. In your case, you might be thankful that at least Misha is humping her teddy bear rather than a human or another dog.

Biologically, it is appropriate, natural, sexual behaviour, but it may graduate to an obsessive/compulsive behaviour—something that is repeatedly done when the opportunity is there.

Some environments can trigger this behaviour. Try to determine when she started doing this and what was happening in the environment at that time.

It would be helpful to first rule out whether Misha has any itching or irritation in the genital area as she may find the humping action eases her discomfort. I always like to rule out any medical concerns first.

Is she suffering from any anxiety, stress, or boredom that can cause her to do this? It can take place as well in a conflict situation, where she wanted to do an activity, but you haven’t allowed that to take place. She therefore redirects her energy to another behaviour such as humping teddy. She may just find pleasure in the humping which, of course, has now become a habit.

Begin the process of decreasing or eliminating this behaviour by teaching her an “off” or “leave it” exercise and reward with small tidbits of food. Also remove all the soft toys for now, introducing ones that can still be self-rewarding such as the Kong, Busy Buddy, or Treatstick filled with goodies.

Additionally, find other outlets for her. Redirect her behaviour to some basic and fun training skills; i.e., sit, down, rollover, games, positive and fun classes, longer walks, and playtime with you. n Delores Wall, CPDT, behaviour specialist, trainer, mentor, founder of DogSmart Training Inc. and Trainer Apprenticeship Programs (www.dogsmart.ca), Vancouver, Canada, is a devoted advocate of training through positive methods for reliable results.

Ask an Expert Ask Nicole Wilde

Q:

My dog, Meatball (I know, misnomer), has no interest in treats, making training difficult. What do I do?—Treatless in Tucson

The Legacy of Beezer and Boomer Lessons on Living and Dying from My Canine Brothers

By Doug KoKtavy

A:

Before we accept that Meatball (love the name!) doesn’t like treats, let’s chew this over. The problem may be the type of treat you’re using—one dog’s treasured tidbit is another’s bland and boring non-reward. Training treats should be healthy, easily ingestible, small, moist bits. Dry dog cookies are so yesterday! Pet supply stores carry a variety of offerings; see whether Meatball gives any a “four-paws-up” rating.

You could also try some “people food.” Don’t worry, a dog doesn’t know people food from dog food, he just knows what smells and tastes good. Slice up some hot dogs, try bits of unsalted turkey breast, or offer bits of banana or carrot. Try different healthy foods until you find one that motivates Meatball.

Don’t feed snacks between meals, as that would make any dog less motivated to earn treats. If you do end up using lots of treats, cut back on meals so Meatball doesn’t end up as an extralarge meatball!

If you find there is truly no treat Meatball will work for, use his daily meal instead. No more feeding in the dish. From now on, food is earned by playing training games with you throughNo more out the day. Stick with it, and within a few days you should feeding in the have Meatball literally eating out dish! of the palm of your hand.

Of course, treats aren’t the only training reward. Others include a toss of a ball, a quick game of tug, petting and affection, rolling in grass, playing with another dog—the list is endless. It all depends on what your dog finds rewarding. Be creative! Having a dog who will work with you, whether for food or other rewards, is the real treat. n

the Legacy of Beezer and Boomer Hardcover, 328 pages ISBN 978-0-9821260-0-4 B Brothers Press, 2010 888.906.2339

Fear and guilt can consume us when canine kids get sick.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Share this inspirational story about one man’s journey to peace during his beloved dogs’ final illnesses.

Nicole Wilde is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer who teaches seminars worldwide on canine behaviour topics. She is on the faculty and advisory board of the Companion Animal Sciences Institute, and is the author of eight canine-related books, including Help for Your Fearful Dog and So You Want to be a Dog Trainer (phantompub.com).

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122 moderndog SUMMER 2010

Ask an Expert Ask Jennifer Messer

Q:

How can I teach my dog to swim? She’s a Border Collie that loves to go in the water but doesn’t seem to want to swim around. I would love to toss a ball into deeper water and have her swim for it to wear off some excess energy. —Landlocked in Louisville

A:

Border Collies are usually pretty enthusiastic swimmers, unlike some other breeds that are known to sink like subs rather than show off their namesake stroke, the dog paddle. But many dogs, even some retrievers—the breed made for swimming—will need a bit of coaching and encouragement to develop a taste for the sport. Swimming is a terrific way to wear off some of that excess Border Collie energy since it is low impact and naturally keeps them cool while exercising. So here are five tips to get her feet off the ground and help turn her from a wader into a swimmer this summer.

Go into the water with her, your presence will help boost her confidence. Pick an area with a gradual slope so that you can both wade in easily together.

Make it fun by using lots of praise and toys to keep the mood playful. Try tossing an Aqua-Kong, decoy duck, or retrieving bumper just out of reach to tease her into venturing gradually deeper to fetch. Be cautious of using balls, they can get lodged in her throat and block her Swimming is a airway. terrific way to Support her belly or hindquarters if she needs wear off some of help as you wade deeper with her; she may take a bit that excess Border of time to get the rhythm and coordination to level herself out. If she won’t try to swim at all on her own, Collie energy. then carry her just a few body lengths past her comport zone, face her towards the shore, and support her well as she swims back to firm footing. Don’t abandon her midway—you want those first few ventures to be confidence builders. Gradually ease off your support as she learns how to float while paddling.

Try a life vest if you find supporting her awkward. Use a model with handles so you can help direct her movement as she gets used to swimming with the vest on. Some dogs never learn to swim on their own, but love to swim with the help of a flotation jacket.

There is nothing wrong with using a life vest as a permanent solution so long as she is carefully supervised.

Bring along another dog who knows how to swim. Social facilitation may turn out to be the only teacher she needs!

Have fun, but play it safe. No matter how awesome a swimmer she becomes, always supervise her near water! n Jennifer Messer is a veterinarian working in Ottawa, Ontario. She has an honours BA in psychology from McGill University and a DVM from the Ontario Veterinary College, and is author of The Kinder Puppy Course available at pavski.ca. She is owned by her Pit Bull, Charlotte, and her Beagle, Mr. F. Bender.

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Get going!

Camping and canines is a match made in heaven 2 8

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3 1 If your camping companion is

4

9

1

on the smaller side, afford her a decent view of the miles passing by, for once. Doggiedriving’s small dog car seat boosts your height-challenged pup to eye level with the window, while ensuring safety comes first. The hard shell design has an adjustable safety strap to keep your dog secure. doggiedriving.com

2 Allow your dog access to water even while cruising down the freeway with the Road Refresher, Jolly Pets no-spill travel bowl.

It’s affix-anywhere Velcro base and controlled-flow design make it the perfect travel companion. jollypets.com

7

3 Be sure to update your vacation contact info on temporary dog tags. Or, better yet, equip Rover with a GPS-based pet tracker to quickly and easily locate your dog with pinpoint accuracy anywhere in the U.S. roameoforpets.com

4 Have your dog’s medical his-

tory and other essential info on hand at all times with a Travel for Dogs TravelStix, a tiny flash drive containing comprehensive forms for all the information you could need. Forms4Travel.com

10 12

5 Use the rugged, well-designed Approach Pack from RuffWear,

available in sizes to fit pretty much every dog, to lighten your load, and give Fido a job to do. ruffwear.com

6 For hydration on the go, 6 136 moderndog SUMMER 2010

11

Petrageous’ collapsible dog bowls are easily stuffed into your dog’s day pack when not in use. petrageousdesigns.com

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8 Outfit yourself in Let’s Go

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12 Lastly, pack all your dog gear into this handy multi-pocketed bag, designed especially for holding all the canine essentials, from food to poop bags. doggybaggage.com

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